Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Fecal impaction occurs when stool forms that is hard, dry, and difficult to pass on its own. Individuals who experience constipation are more at risk of fecal impaction, which is more severe. When an individual experiences fecal impaction, they usually need treatment to pass the stool. Treatment may include medications,enemas, procedures, or a combination.
There are several risk factors for fecal impaction. However, even if an individual experiences multiple risk factors, one can take several preventative measures to prevent the condition.
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Fecal impaction typically occurs when a person has not had a bowel movement for many days. Several lifestyle factors and medical conditions increase the risk of fecal impaction. Some populations, particularly elderly individuals in nursing homes, are at the highest risk.
Lifestyle risk factors include:
Medical conditions that increase the risk include:
Elderly individuals are most at risk of developing fecal impaction. Up to 50% of elderly individuals in care facilities (e.g., nursing homes) experience fecal impaction over a year. Additionally, children and individuals withneuropsychiatric conditionsare also at higher risk of developing fecal impaction.
Fecal impaction usually causes abdominal discomfort similar to constipation but more intense and for a more extended period. Unlikeconstipation, which is difficulty passing stools, with fecal impaction, the stool has become too hard to pass without intervention. Fecal impaction can be a complication of constipation.
You will likely have other symptoms in addition to constipation. The symptoms typically get worse the longer you go without a bowel movement.
If you develop fecal impaction, symptoms may include:
Fecal impaction can cause several complications, including, but not limited to:
In severe cases, fecal impaction can turn into a medical emergency in situations wherecolon perforationand subsequent peritonitis occur.If the colon perforates, stool can leak into the abdomen, causing a significant infection.
There are many causes of abdominal pain and cramping. Fecal impaction may not be the apparent cause of your symptoms at first. Initially, the symptoms may appear similar to abowel obstruction.
Your healthcare provider will diagnose the condition based on your medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests if needed.
Most mild to moderate cases of fecal impaction can be treated with medication. However, sometimes procedures such as digital disimpaction or surgical intervention are required. Treatment depends on how much stool is hardened, if any other complications have developed, and the severity of the condition.
Laxatives
Providers may recommendlaxativesfirst. Usually, in oral form, these medications soften the hardened stool so that it can be passed.If you do not regularly use laxative medications, they should be effective relatively quickly.
One example of a laxative that may be recommended to help move impacted stool is MiraLAX, which is polyethylene glycol. MiraLAX is considered anosmotic laxative, meaning that it draws water into your bowels to help soften stool.
You can expect to have at least one if not more, large bowel movements within a few hours after using a laxative and possibly for the next several days. It is best to remain where you can quickly get to a toilet. However, this may not be a suitable treatment for some older people.
Procedures
There are also fecal impaction treatments that more actively remove the stool:
Emergency fecal impaction surgery may be needed if there is a complete bowel blockage or if the colon is abnormally dilated (megacolon), but such cases are rare.
Prevention is essential, as up to 39% of individuals who experience a fecal impaction will have a recurrence of the condition.
Once the fecal impaction is cleared, a provider may perform a colonic evaluation. An evaluation can show if there are any structural abnormalities, strictures, or, rarely, cancer.
Some basic measures can help prevent fecal impaction, such as daily movement, if possible, increasing fluid consumption, and increasingdaily fiber intake. Also, ensuring individuals have easy access to the restroom whenever needed is essential.
Depending on your medical condition, your healthcare provider may recommend that you regularly usestool softenersor other medications to soften stools and make them easier to pass.
Your healthcare provider may also test you forhypothyroidism(a frequent medical cause of constipation) and make changes to any of your medications that contribute to constipation.
Summary
However, in some cases, underlying medication conditions predispose an individual to fecal impaction (e.g., individuals who are bed-bound or need medications that make constipation more likely).
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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