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Purpose: Fecal impaction is a common condition, and " fecaloma" is an extreme variety of impaction. This is a report of a giant, solitary, and stubborn fecaloma not responding to nonoperative management. A surgical intervention for uncomplicated fecal impaction is rarely needed and reported in the literature., Method: A 39-year-old male patient with constipation presented with a firm, mobile, abdominal mass of six-months duration. Investigations revealed an isolated, giant fecaloma in a redundant sigmoid megacolon. After all the conservative measures were unsuccessful in evacuating the stubborn impaction, he was treated by sigmoid colectomy and primary anastomosis., Conclusion: A timely surgical intervention in recalcitrant fecal impactions may prevent possible stercoral ulcer perforation with a high mortality.

Stercoral perforation of the colon is a rare phenomenon with fewer than 90 cases reported in the literature to date. The pathogenesis of stercoral ulceration is thought to result from ischemic pressure necrosis of the bowel wall caused by a stercoraceous mass. Stercoral perforation in more than 90 per cent of cases involves the sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon with associated fecal mass causing localized mucosal ulceration and bowel wall thinning due to localized pressure effect. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with a 12-hour history of epigastric pain. Significant comorbidities included systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, hypertension, and previous history of congestive heart failure. The patient was also on prednisone and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for joint pains. On physical examination the patient had signs of generalized peritonitis. Chest X-ray showed significant free air under the diaphragm. Emergency laparotomy revealed localized perforation over the antimesenteric border of the sigmoid colon with associated stercoral mass at the site of perforation. A segmental resection of the sigmoid colon with end colostomy (Hartmann's procedure) was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery. Stercoral perforation is often a consequence of chronic constipation; however, there are other predisposing factors as the condition is rare compared with the frequency of severe constipation. One of the hypotheses includes the association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with stercoral perforation of the colon. Our case report lends support to this association with NSAID use; thus there need to be greater awareness and caution when using NSAIDs in chronically constipated patients.

An adolescent girl with an anovestibular fistula presenting as a complete vaginal prolapse and large-bowel obstruction is reported. The prolapse was reduced manually after repeated bowel washouts and a divided high sigmoid colostomy. The patient is awaiting posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Possible etiopathologic factors of the prolapse are discussed. A vaginal prolapse in a patient with an anorectal malformation has not been reported previously in the English literature.

Intraabdominal abscess formation is the most common septical complication after perforated appendicitis. An appendiceal fecalith favours appendicitis and is a high risk for complications like perforation or abscess formation. In a 6 year period 554 patients have been treated operatively for appendicitis in our institution. In 4 patients, 6 to 12 1/2 years, operated for perforated appendicitis, a fecalith was initially overlooked. This unrecognised fecalith at operation led to an intraabdominal abscess 14 days up to 17 months postoperatively. After laparatomy with extraction of the fecalith, drainage of the abscess and antibiotical therapy all patients attained definitive healing. An appendicolith can escape into the abdominal cavity before or during appendectomy, causing complications. An unrecognised fecalith is a rare cause for intraabdominal abscess formation. Nevertheless in patients with an intraabdominal abscess after appendectomy a thorough radiological search for a fecalith by means of plain abdominal radiograph and abdominal ultrasound is mandatory. Surgical removal of the intraabdominal fecalith is the only way to definitive healing.

Objective: To describe a case of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) in an adult patient., Background: HD is diagnosed in the newborn in 80 to 90% of cases. HD is rare in the adult, and usually affects an ultrashort segment of the bowel., Case Report: A 49-year-old woman with a history of constipation since birth is involved. She was submitted to an abdominal laparotomy because of fecal impaction. A colostomy was performed. The diagnosis of HD affecting, the descending colon was established with manometry and histopathology. She underwent surgery, and a proctectomy and left hemicolectomy with colo-anal anastomosis was performed., Conclusion: Adult HD is an infrequently diagnosed entity that must be suspected in a patient with chronic, intractable constipation from infancy, evidence of megacolon, and typical manometric and histopathologic features. The short and ultrashort-segment disease are more often found in older children and adults. The differential diagnosis includes idiopathic megarectum, functional constipation, and colonic pseudo-obstruction.

A modified colon tray to perform large colon evacuations in horses was designed. A funnel-shaped accessory was constructed to create a mechanical separation between the sterile and nonsterile part of the tray. Sterile hooks were used to make a temporary and stabile colostomy. Thirty horses with surgical correction of nonstrangulating large colon obstruction underwent a large colon evacuation with this modified tray. The surgical procedure was uncomplicated and resulted in a positive outcome in 29 horses. This less labour-intensive way to evacuate the large colon results in minor contamination and makes extraluminal lavage becomes superfluous. This modified tray is a very efficacious and practical instrument for emptying the large colon in horses.

Surgical management of caecal impactions has included several different procedures suggested over the years. Complete bypass of the caecum through an ileocolic or jejunocolic anastomosis has become common practice for first time caecal impaction management, especially when dysfunction is suspected. In our practice, however, caecal impactions have been managed surgically by typhlotomy alone and of the 10 cases (July 1988-June 1998), 9 underwent surgery for first time caecal impactions, received a typhlotomy, and had survived an average of 43 months at time of case review. At the time of surgery, all were considered to have a dysfunctional caecum. All horses received routine postoperative care with the addition of anthelmintics as recovery of Anoplocephala perfoliata occurred in several cases. Typhlotomy should be considered an acceptable technique for surgical management of first time caecal impactions. Postoperative pyrantel pamoate and larvicidal anthelmintics should also be considered.

Purpose: Massive fecal impaction leading to surgical catastrophes has rarely been reported. We present 2 such patients to remind physicians that neglected accumulation of fecal matter in the rectum may lead to ischemia and perforation of the colon and rectum., Methods: Report of 2 patients and a MEDLINE search of the literature., Results: In the 1st case massive fecal impaction produced an abdominal compartment syndrome and rectal necrosis. In the 2nd patient fecal impaction resulted in colonic obstruction and ischemia. In both, an operation was life-saving., Conclusion: Neglected fecal impaction may lead to a megarectum causing an abdominal compartment syndrome and colorectal obstruction, perforation or necrosis. Measures to prevent fecal impaction are of paramount importance and prompt manual disimpaction before the above complications develop is mandatory. Appropriate operative treatment may be life-saving.

Objective: To characterize clinical findings and compare effects of treatment and outcome for horses treated medically or surgically for impaction of the small colon., Design: Retrospective study., Animals: 84 horses with impaction of the small colon., Procedure: Medical records were reviewed for history, physical examination findings, laboratory values, treatment, response to treatment, complications, out-come, and necropsy findings., Results: 47 horses were treated medically and 37 horses were treated surgically. Significant differences between groups were not identified for duration of clinical signs, physical examination findings, or laboratory values. Horses treated surgically were hospitalized longer than horses treated medically. Complications recorded during hospitalization included diarrhea, jugular thrombophlebitis, recurrent colic, fever, and laminitis. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 20 horses. Horses treated surgically were more likely to have signs of moderate abdominal pain, gross abdominal distention, and positive results for culture of Salmonella spp than horses treated medically. Follow-up information was available for 27 horses treated medically and 23 horses treated surgically. Twenty-four (72%) and 21 (75%) of the horses, respectively, survived and were being used for their intended purpose at least 1 year after treatment., Clinical Implications: Colitis may be a predisposing factor for impaction of the small colon in horses. Prognosis for horses treated surgically or medically is fair.

An unusual case of impaction colic caused by the ingestion of large quantities of gravel. The clinical presentation, surgical findings, and outcome are described.

Purpose: To evaluate how the use of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) has changed insights on the frequency and natural history of right colonic diverticulitis., Materials and Methods: Clinical findings, US and CT images, and clinical and surgical records in 44 patients with a final diagnosis of right colonic diverticulitis seen over 11 years were retrospectively studied., Results: Of the 44 patients, three underwent diverticulectomy, and 41 were successfully treated conservatively. Follow-up US demonstrated a consistent change in the pattern of the findings of diverticulitis over time, with eventual spontaneous evacuation of the contents of the inflamed diverticulum into the colonic lumen. Five patients had recurrent symptoms; two of them underwent elective surgery. The frequency of right colonic diverticulitis was one in 34 appendectomies, which is nine times higher than that reported to date., Conclusion: Right colonic diverticulitis is more common than has been previously reported. US and CT findings are characteristic and show a consistent pattern of changes over time. The natural history is benign, and surgical intervention can be avoided in the vast majority of patients.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the intestinal tract, occurring in 2% of autoptic studies. The case of an 85-year-old man referred to the Emergency Surgery Unit for intestinal obstruction and lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding is reported. Surgical exploration revealed a complicated Meckel's diverticulum full of coproliths, immersed in pus and blood. Examination of the resected diverticulum showed necrotic diverticulitis in the absence of ectopic gastric or pancreatic tissues.

Background: In patients with spina bifida, traditional bowel management programs such as suppositories, retrograde enemas, and manual disimpaction have been largely unsatisfactory. The Malone antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure has largely changed our approach to bowel management in this patient group., Study Design: Over a 3-year period between January 1994 and January 1997, 27 patients with spina bifida underwent the Malone ACE procedure at our institutions. At the time of their ACE procedure, four patients underwent simultaneous continent urinary diversion and three had simultaneous small-bowel bladder augmentation. All the patients were evaluated for 9 months or more after their procedure, and 10 of the patients have been followed for more than 2 years., Results: Postoperatively, predictable bowel control and continence were achieved in 19 of the 27 patients, but 6 had some rectal soiling requiring a sanitary pad. All patients were out of diapers and none reported stomal leakage. Eighteen of the 27 patients were able to manage independently and 9 required assistance. Two patients had stopped using their ACE stoma despite good technical results. The appendix was used as a catheterizable stoma in 15 of the 27 patients. The appendix was not available in 12 patients, so a tubularized cecal flap was used in 9 and a small-bowel neoappendix was created in 3. Complications included stomal stenosis in 5 patients, cecal-flap necrosis in 1, and stomal granulations in 3., Conclusions: We believe that the ACE procedure provides reliable colonic emptying and avoids fecal soiling in the majority of individuals, and we find it widely and enthusiastically accepted by patients with spina bifida.

Severe constipation is a well recognized symptom amongst disabled or mentally ill patients. Characteristically, these patients live without bowel movements for days and present themselves with abdominal distension and fecal impaction. Inpatient treatment is necessary frequently. Due to intestinal obstruction, diagnostic approaches are often delayed because of lack of cooperation. Data of 94 disabled patients with severe obstipation are presented. 54 patients were admitted to inpatient treatment of constipation or bowel obstruction, 40 were treated for another diagnosis but had severe constipation which required intervention. Ileus or conservatively untreatable constipation led to 16 operations in 14 patients (polypectomy 2, rectopexy 1, cecostoma 5, left hemicolectomy 3, subtotal colectomy 5). Cecostomata are considered not to be effective as definite treatment whereas colonic resection resulted in daily bowel movements.

Objective: To describe a method for facilitating movement of enteroliths obstructing the proximal portion of the descending colon., Study Design: Prospective report., Sample Population: 15 horses., Methods: A seromuscular incision through the antimesenteric taenia of the proximal portion of the descending colon was used to facilitate movement of enteroliths., Results: Teniotomy allowed proximal descending colon enteroliths located within the abdomen or close to the abdominal wall to be advanced 4 to 15 cm in an aboral direction so that they could be exteriorized for safe removal., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Teniotomy is a feasible method for mobilizing enteroliths in the proximal descending colon in locations that cannot otherwise be exteriorized.

A 14-year-old, spayed female Jack Russell terrier with a six month history of weight loss, lethargy, intermittent vomition and diarrhoea was diagnosed as having a chronic impaction of the caecum with mineralised faecal material. Diagnosis was based on the clinical findings and both survey and positive contrast radiographic studies. The diagnosis of caecal impaction was confirmed at surgery and a typhlectomy was performed with the aid of a linear stapler. Histopathology of the caecum confirmed the impaction to have resulted from faecolithiasis. The dog made a full recovery from the procedure, showing no recurrence of the clinical signs until euthanasia three months postoperatively for probable heart failure associated with mitral regurgitation.

Between 1980 and 1996 122 patients with acutely obstructed resectable carcinomas of the colon and rectum were treated in our hospital. Ninety-four has undergone one stage operation of immediate resection and primary anastomosis without proximal colostomy. Intraoperative colonic irrigation was performed in 34 patients, subtotal/total colectomy in 30 patients, right hemicolectomy in 30 patients. There were 2.3 and 1 operative deaths, respectively. The average hospital stay for the survivors was 19.8 days in the primary resection and anastomosis group, and 41.0 days in staged operation group. Concerning the possibility of multiple lesions the authors recommend subtotal/total colectomy except for tumours localized in the sigma where they apply total colectomy only when the proximal part of the colon is necrotized or filled with solid stool.

Objective: To determine whether complete cecal bypass, by jejunocolostomy or ileocolostomy, is an effective treatment for horses with cecal impaction., Design: Retrospective analysis of medical records., Animals: 9 horses with cecal impaction managed by jejunocolostomy (3) or ileocolostomy (6) performed with or without typhlotomy for evacuation of cecal contents., Procedure: Information on age, breed, gender, duration of medical treatment, preoperative abnormalities, surgical procedure, and postoperative complications was retrieved from the medical records. Follow-up data were obtained via telephone interview with owners., Results: 6 males and 3 females between 9 and 24 years old (median, 14 years) were included. Five of 9 horses had signs of mild pain associated with reintroduction of food after surgery. All 7 horses for which follow-up information was available were still alive between 7 and 54 months (median, 1.5 years) after surgery., Clinical Implications: Jejunocolostomy or ileocolostomy resulted in apparently permanent resolution of cecal impaction in these horses and acceptable long-term outcomes. Mild signs of abdominal pain associated with the onset of feeding can be expected in the early postoperative period.

A seven-year-old, intact male dobermann with a four-week history of anorexia was diagnosed as having impaction of the caecum with inspissated faeces. Radiographic and histopathological findings revealed impaction of the caecum and a mild subacute locally extensive typhlitis. Typhlectomy was curative and no further problems have been reported.

An elderly man presented with abdominal pain and signs of peritonitis. Emergency laparotomy was performed and a stercoral perforation of the cecum was found with a large scybalum plugging the defect. The patient was treated with right colectomy and a stoma was formed from the terminal ileum and transverse colon. Stercoral perforation of the colon is extremely unusual and carries high morbidity and mortality. The etiology, diagnosis and treatment of the condition are briefly discussed.

"Constipation" and "hard stools" are associated with formula feeding of both term and preterm infants and, in the latter, can lead to life-threatening complications. This study tested the hypothesis that stool hardness is related to excretion of fatty acid (FA) soaps in term infants, and in the extreme to milk bolus obstruction in premature infants. Stools (n = 44) were collected from 20 formula-fed and 10 breast-fed infants aged 6 weeks and were classified using visual charts for stool hardness on a 5-point scale (1, watery; 5, hard). Stools were analysed for nitrogen, minerals, and lipid, the latter divided between the soap and nonsoap fractions. We explored the relationship between stool hardness or solids content and stool constituents, relative to both wet and dry weight. Calcium and FA soaps were the dominant factors significantly related to stool solids and hardness score across the breast- and formula-fed groups. An 8% increase in stool dry weight FA soap content corresponded to a 1-point change in stool hardness score. Stools from formula-fed infants had a higher solids content and were classified as significantly harder than those from breast-fed infants (hardness scores, 4.0 +/- 0.5 versus 2.6 +/- 0.7, mean +/- SD) and on both a wet- and dry-weight basis contained severalfold higher levels of minerals and lipid and considerably less carbohydrate. Differences in lipids between formula- and breast-fed infants' stools were due almost entirely to FAs (mainly C16:0 and C18:0) excreted as soaps (27.7 +/- 7.5% compared to 3.1 +/- 4.1% of dry weight), suggesting the groups differed markedly in their handling of saturated FAs. An inspissated stool sample from a premature infant requiring surgical disempaction of an obstructed small intestine was found to be enriched in FA and calcium relative to the preterm formula. FA soaps, predominantly saturated, accounted for one third of the stool dry weight. These data support the hypothesis that calcium FA soaps are positively related to stool hardness; we speculate that this may, at least in part, explain the greater stool hardness in formula- versus breast-fed infants and milk bolus obstruction in preterm infants. This conclusion is consistent with the physical properties of calcium FA soaps.

A case of a giant faecaloma of the sigmoid colon secondary to surgery is reported. The predisposing factors, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are discussed.

The blind-pouch-syndrome may display a variety of symptoms. But it rarely causes intestinal bleeding. In a patient suffering from anemia of chronic intestinal hemorrhage, a blind-pouch was diagnosed through the search for colon polyps. A hemicolectomy with a side-to-side ileocolic anastomosis was performed 30 years ago, but there were no symptoms of maldigestion or malabsorption. The explorative laparotomy revealed an anastomotic stricture with a lot of coproliths in the ileum-blind-pouch. The histological examination of the resected anastomosis showed an unspecific inflammation of the mucosa. Excluding other potential causes of intestinal hemorrhage, this mucosal irritation was presumed to be the bleeding site.

Medical records of 28 horses with impaction of the small colon were reviewed; 20 horses were admitted during the winter months. Diagnosis of small-colon impaction was made in 21 horses by rectal examination, and in 7 horses at exploratory celiotomy. Ten horses were treated medically, and 18 were treated surgically. Horses that were treated surgically were more likely to have abdominal distention than were those that responded to medical treatment (P less than 0.025). Signs of greater degree of abdominal pain and higher heart rate were seen in horses treated surgically, but these values were not significantly different from values in medically treated horses. Duration of hospitalization was less in horses treated medically (P less than 0.025). Long-term survival was higher for horses treated medically (P less than 0.025). All horses treated medically and 7 of the horses treated surgically were alive at follow-up evaluation, at least 1 year after discharge. Fever and diarrhea were common complications after surgery. Four horses were fecal culture-positive for Salmonella sp after surgery. Early and aggressive medical management of horses with impaction of the small colon is recommended.

Results of the surgical treatment for conservative intractable constipation in 70 adult patients are reviewed. 49 patients with severe symptoms have been treated by partial colectomy as sigmoid colectomy (n = 23) or left hemicolectomy (n = 26). 33 patients underwent colectomy with cecorectal anastomosis (n = 25) or ileorectal anastomosis (n = 8). Out of these patients with colectomy seven had undergone previous segmental colonic resection or internal sphincterotomy. Of those patients with cecorectal anastomosis who were dissatisfied, three underwent ileorectal anastomosis. Overall, a mortality rate of 3.3% and morbidity rate of 22.5 resp. 54.5% for partial and total colectomy were observed. The most frequent occurring complication after colectomy was small bowel obstruction in 30% requiring laparotomy in 40%. Of 45 patients who underwent partial colectomy, 34 (75%) had normal bowel function or were markedly improved. In 28 of 32 patients (87.5%) treated by colectomy a successful result has been achieved. The operation of sigmoid colectomy or left hemicolectomy may be recommended as a treatment for constipation only in patients with less severe symptoms or patients with recurrent sigmoid volvulus. For those patients with severe constipation, at present, colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis seems to be the surgical procedure that offers the greatest probability of improvement. However, the significant morbidity claimed the need for a careful patient selection.

"Strainodynia" is the name I give to the excessive and exhaustive straining that may accompany defecation. Eighty-six patients with strainodynia were studied; the investigations comprised study of the stool character, proctoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema, intestinal transit rate, EMG, manometry, and rectal biopsy. These patients were classified into 3 groups: band, diet, and levator strainodynia. The first, band strainodynia, more common in men, presented with a normal stool character. However, the rectal neck pressure was elevated, and a fibrous band could be demonstrated by a rectal neck biopsy. Bandotomy relieved the strainodynia. Diet strainodynia, more common in women, presented with stool frequency and weight less than normal. Rectal neck pressure was normal or elevated, and the rectosphincteric reflex was diminished. There was internal sphincter fibrosis. Improvement occurred after dietary management or internal sphincterotomy. Levator strainodynia was due to levator dysfunction syndrome. Stools were repeatedly obstructed at defecation despite normal stool character. Rectal neck pressure was elevated only on straining. There was reduced levator myoelectric activity. Levatorplasty cured the condition.

Nine patients ranging in age from 3 mo to 15 yr presented with severe constipation and/or increasing incontinence. All had a huge, dilated atonic rectum and rectosigmoid demonstrated by barium enema. Six patients underwent resection of the abnormal bowel by an endorectal pull-through procedure with good to excellent results while 1 patient was corrected by a Swenson procedure.

The case of a patient with colonic obstruction secondary to impaction of a large calcified fecolith is presented. Clinical features, radiographic findings and treatment are described and the literature is reviewed.

The rare finding of a cecal fecalith in an 8-year-old child is described together with a review of similar cases. These indicate not only the difficulty of diagnosis, but the dilemma faced by the surgeon at the operation.

Stercoral perforation of the colon is a direct result of ischemic pressure necrosis by a stercoraceous mass. In over 90 per cent of cases, the perforation will involve either the sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon and is consistently centrally located within a region of mucosal ulceration of varying diameter and magnitude. A review of 33 surgically treated cases from the literature along with four cases presented here, support resection, end colostomy, and either mucous fistula or Hartmann's procedure as the operation of choice with the lowest operative mortality (23%) when compared to those patients treated by either loop colostomy or exteriorization (71%) or proximal colostomy with plication of the perforation (44%). Irrigation of the distal rectal segment as that for penetrating rectal injury is also recommended.