Fecaloma, also known as fecalite, corresponds to the hard, dry stool mass that can accumulate in the rectum or in the final portion of the intestine, preventing stool from leaving and resulting in abdominal swelling, pain and chronic bowel obstruction.
This situation is more common in bedridden and elderly people due to decreased bowel movements, in addition, people who do not have adequate nutrition or who do not practice physical activities are more prone to the formation of fecaloma.
Treatment varies according to the degree of obstruction and hardening of the stools, and can be done with the use of laxatives or manual removal, which must be done at the hospital by a gastroenterologist or nurse, if the laxatives do not work.
How to identify
Fecaloma is the main complication of chronic constipation and can be identified through the following symptoms:
- Difficulty in evacuating; Abdominal swelling and pain; Presence of blood and mucus in the stools; Cramps; Elimination of small or ball-shaped stools.
It is important to go to the gastroenterologist as soon as the first symptoms appear so that tests can be requested and appropriate treatment can be started. The diagnosis is made by the doctor through the analysis of the symptoms presented by the person and imaging tests, such as an X-ray of the abdomen, in the case of suspected fecaloma located in the intestine. The doctor can also analyze the rectum to check for fecal residue.
Causes of fecaloma
Fecaloma is more common in elderly people and people with limited mobility, because bowel movements are difficult, with no complete elimination of feces, which remain in the body and end up drying and hardening.
In addition, some situations, such as Chagas' disease for example, can lead to the formation of fecalomas. Other situations that can favor fecaloma are: sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, little fluid intake, use of medications and constipation.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for fecaloma aims to remove the hardened mass of feces and thus unblock the digestive system. For this reason, the gastroenterologist may recommend the use of suppositories, washes or cleaning cleanings in order to stimulate the elimination of fecaloma.
However, when none of the treatment options are effective or when the intestinal obstruction is severe, the doctor may recommend manual removal of the fecaloma, which can be done at the hospital by the doctor or a nurse.
It is important that fecaloma is treated as soon as it is identified to avoid complications, such as anal fissures, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, chronic constipation or megacolon, for example, which corresponds to dilation of the large intestine and difficulty in eliminating feces and gases. Understand more about the megacolon.
Also know what to eat to avoid trapped intestines and, consequently, fecaloma by watching the following video:
