Fecal Impaction
Fecal impaction means hard stool is stuck in the rectum or colon and is difficult to pass.
When to get help quickly: Prompt medical review is important if there is worsening abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, confusion, dehydration, or the person cannot pass stool or gas at all.
Common symptoms
Symptoms often include severe constipation, abdominal discomfort, bloating, poor appetite, straining without being able to pass stool, and sometimes watery stool leaking around the blockage.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when constipation is severe, the abdomen is swollen, bowel obstruction is a concern, or doctors need to look for complications.
What radiology does
Abdominal X-rays or CT can help when bowel obstruction, severe constipation, or complications are being considered.
What usually happens next
Management may include laxatives, enemas, manual removal, hydration, and prevention of recurrence.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.