Images in Clinical Medicine

Severe Fecal Impaction

Yann Loubières, M.D., and Olivier Chereau, M.D.

N Engl J Med 2005; 352:e12March 24, 2005

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Article

A 49-year-old man with a history of paraplegia due to poliomyelitis, surgical treatment of a lumbar ependymoma, and chronic renal insufficiency due to a neuropathic bladder was admitted to the intensive care unit because of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and hyperkalemia (serum potassium, 7 mmol per liter). Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a severe fecal impaction with marked compression of the abdominal viscera without any sign of colonic perforation. After rehydration and correction of the hyperkalemia, the patient underwent manual disimpaction under general anesthesia. His recovery was unremarkable.

Yann Loubières, M.D.
Olivier Chereau, M.D.
Centre Hospitalier de Poissy–Saint Germain-en-Laye, 78105 Saint Germain-en-Laye, France

Citing Articles (3)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   Arnold Wald. (2008) Management and prevention of fecal impaction. Current Gastroenterology Reports 10:5, 499-501
   CrossRef

2. 2

   E. Guettard, P. Raibaut, C. Jacq, A. Terrier, G. Amarenco. (2007) Troubles sensitifs périnéaux par compression sacrée secondaire à un fécalome géant. Pelvi-périnéologie 2:2, 125-127
   CrossRef

3. 3

   Anthony J. Langone, Peale Chuang. (2006) Ezetimibe in Renal Transplant Patients with Hyperlipidemia Resistant to HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors. Transplantation 81:5, 804-807
   CrossRef