Fecaloma
Encyclopedia
A fecaloma, also called fecalith, fecolith and coprolith, i.e., a "stone" made of feces
, is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size inside the colon
, which may appear whenever chronic obstruction of transit occurs, such as in megacolon
and chronic constipation
. Some diseases, such as Chagas disease
, Hirschsprung's disease
and others damage the autonomic nervous system
in the colon's mucosa (Auerbach's plexus
) and may cause extremely large or "giant" fecalomas, which must be surgically removed (disimpaction). Rarely, a fecalith will form around a hairball (Trichobezoar
), or other hygroscopic or desiccant
nucleus. Distal or sigmoid, fecalomas can often be disimpacted digitally or by a catheter
which carries a flow of disimpaction fluid (water or other solvent or lubricant).
Fecal impaction
and attempts at removal can have severe and even lethal effects, such as the rupture of the colon wall by catheter or an acute angle of the fecaloma (stercoral perforation
), followed by septicemia. A small fecalith is one cause of both appendicitis
and acute diverticulitis
.
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
, is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size inside the colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
, which may appear whenever chronic obstruction of transit occurs, such as in megacolon
Megacolon
Megacolon is an abnormal dilation of the colon . The dilatation is often accompanied by a paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel...
and chronic constipation
Constipation
Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation...
. Some diseases, such as Chagas disease
Chagas disease
Chagas disease is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi is commonly transmitted to humans and other mammals by an insect vector, the blood-sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae most commonly species belonging to the Triatoma, Rhodnius,...
, Hirschsprung's disease
Hirschsprung's disease
Hirschsprung's disease , or congenital aganglionic megacolon is a serious medical problem where the enteric nervous system is missing from the end of the bowel. The enteric nervous system is a complex network of neurons and glia that controls most aspects of intestinal function...
and others damage the autonomic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
in the colon's mucosa (Auerbach's plexus
Auerbach's plexus
A part of the enteric nervous system, Auerbach's plexus , exists between the longitudinal and circular layers of muscularis externa in the gastrointestinal tract and provides motor innervation to both layers of the mucosa, having both parasympathetic and sympathetic input, whereas Meissner's plexus...
) and may cause extremely large or "giant" fecalomas, which must be surgically removed (disimpaction). Rarely, a fecalith will form around a hairball (Trichobezoar
Bezoar
A bezoar is a mass found trapped in the gastrointestinal system , though it can occur in other locations. A pseudobezoar is an indigestible object introduced intentionally into the digestive system....
), or other hygroscopic or desiccant
Desiccant
A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness in its local vicinity in a moderately well-sealed container....
nucleus. Distal or sigmoid, fecalomas can often be disimpacted digitally or by a catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
which carries a flow of disimpaction fluid (water or other solvent or lubricant).
Fecal impaction
Fecal impaction
A fecal impaction is a solid, immobile bulk of human feces that can develop in the rectum as a result of chronic constipation.-Symptoms:Symptoms include chronic constipation. There can be fecal incontinence and paradoxical or overflow diarrhea as liquid stool passes around the obstruction. ...
and attempts at removal can have severe and even lethal effects, such as the rupture of the colon wall by catheter or an acute angle of the fecaloma (stercoral perforation
Stercoral perforation
Stercoral perforation is the perforation or rupture of the intestine's walls by its internal contents, such as foreign objects, or, more commonly, by hardened feces which may form in long constipations or other diseases which cause obstruction of transit, such as Chagas disease, Hirschprung's...
), followed by septicemia. A small fecalith is one cause of both appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
and acute diverticulitis
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon...
.
See also
- Fecal impactionFecal impactionA fecal impaction is a solid, immobile bulk of human feces that can develop in the rectum as a result of chronic constipation.-Symptoms:Symptoms include chronic constipation. There can be fecal incontinence and paradoxical or overflow diarrhea as liquid stool passes around the obstruction. ...
- Coprolith is also used to mean geologically fossilized fecesCoproliteA coprolite is fossilized animal dung. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour rather than morphology. The name is derived from the Greek words κοπρος / kopros meaning 'dung' and λιθος / lithos meaning 'stone'. They...
.