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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
07:06
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
27.6K
Fecaloma presenting as huge abdominal mass
Mushtaq A Khan1, Hilal A Dar1, Altaf H Shah1
1Department of Gastroenterology Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Kashmir India.
Summary
Fecal impaction, though common in certain patient groups, rarely causes intestinal obstruction. This case highlights a severe sigmoid fecalith leading to bilateral hydronephrosis, requiring surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Fecal impaction is a frequent complication in elderly, bedridden patients, particularly those with schizoaffective disorder on antipsychotic medications.
- Distal colonic fecaliths typically present with symptoms amenable to conservative management, such as digital manual evacuation and enemas.
Observation:
- A patient presented with significant abdominal distention and a reported history of no bowel evacuation for three months.
- Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed a large fecalith within the sigmoid colon.
Findings:
- The large sigmoid fecalith was causing bilateral hydronephrosis, indicating severe urinary tract obstruction.
- The patient underwent a laparotomy, resulting in sigmoid colon resection and the creation of an end colostomy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for fecaliths to cause rare but severe complications like bilateral hydronephrosis.
- It highlights the importance of considering surgical intervention in refractory or complicated cases of fecal impaction, even in high-risk patient populations.
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