Fecal Impaction

Abdominal pain and bloating

Constipation

Rectal discomfort

Incomplete evacuation, use of digital maneuvers

Fecal incontinence, paradoxical (overflow) diarrhea

Nausea, vomiting, anorexia

Gen...

Treatment seeks to remove of the impaction and prevent recurrence.

Lactulose reduces fecal impaction.

Manual disimpaction and extraction of fecal mass is often required.

For sto...

Identify and eliminate potential causes of constipation.

Aim to maintain ≥3 bowel movements/week.

High fiber (20 to 25 g/day) with adequate hy...

K56.41 Fecal impaction

K59.00 Constipation, unspecified

R15.9 Full incontinence of feces

44635007 Fecal impaction (disorder)

14760008 Constipation (disorder)

302690004 Encopresis (disorder...

Fecal impaction is common in older adults and hospitalized patients, presenting most often as an acute complication of chronic constipation

Opioids are a common cause of constipation an...