Faecal impaction: hard stools that are difficult to evacuate

Faecal impaction: hard stools that are difficult to evacuate
Extract from the article: Elles sont nombreuses ces personnes qui ont des difficultés à déféquer ou faire les selles. La raison, est qu’elles sont bloquées et ne peuvent pas sortir normalement. Selon les spécialistes, il se peut que ce soit un fécalome.

Many people find it difficult to defecate or have a bowel movement. The reason is that they are blocked and cannot pass normally. According to specialists, this may be a faecal impaction. 

A faecal impaction is a blockage of faeces that accumulates over several days in the final part of the intestine (terminal colon and rectal ampulla). These stools are dehydrated and very hard and are difficult to evacuate. Faecal impaction is more common in people who suffer from constipation.

Causes of faecal impaction 

The main cause of faecal impaction is chronic constipation. A person is a victim of chronic or persistent constipation if these situations are present in their life: lack of physical exercise, sedentary lifestyle, low-fibre diet, insufficient hydration, taking certain medicines that cause constipation, nervous system disorders.

Symptoms of faecal impaction

Absence of stools or the presence of liquid stools in small quantities, a feeling of heaviness in the rectum, abdominal pain.

Tips for eliminating hard stools

You need to eat more green vegetables, wheat bran and other fibre-rich fruits to ease bowel movements.You can also make laxative infusions or teas to help with bowel movements and soften hard stools.You need to drink enough water, between 1.5 and 2 litres a day, to soften hard stools. There are also medical methods that can be prescribed by a doctor.These include lubricating the rectum or softening the stools with a rectal enema.  

If the stools refuse to come out for several days, a serious situation can arise, known as occlusive syndrome, characterised by abdominal pain with complete cessation of intestinal transit, gas and flatulence, and vomiting. You need to react quickly because this is a surgical emergency.

Measures to prevent faecal impaction

You need to eat a diet rich in fibre (vegetables, fruit, cereals, tubers); drink enough water every day; take part in daily physical activity; and detect and change the medication causing the constipation.

Gamé KOKO

Source: Dr Raquel Correia, General Practitioner (France) 

Author
santé éducation
Editor
Abel OZIH

Elles sont nombreuses ces personnes qui ont des difficultés à déféquer ou faire les selles. La raison, est qu’elles sont bloquées et ne peuvent pas sortir normalement. Selon les spécialistes, il se peut que ce soit un fécalome.

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