Massive Fecal Impaction with Megarectum Formation: A Case Report

Abstract

Fecal impaction occurs because of hardened fecal matter retained in the colorectum which cannot be evacuated by peristaltic activity. Fecal impaction commonly occurs among nursing home residents, patients with neurological deficit, psychiatric disease or renal failure. Fecal impaction is usually treated by manual disimpaction, enemas and laxatives. Laparotomy is required only in the presence of complications. We herein report a case of a massive fecal impaction with megarectum in a 62-year-old woman who presented with large bowel obstruction. The aim of this report is to give a brief review of this entity and discuss the treatment options for these cases.

Keywords

• constipation
• fecal impaction; megarectum; mechanical bowel obstruction.