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Is the constipation acute or chronic? If the constipation is acute and there is abdominal pain or vomiting, one must consider the possibility of intestinal obstruction. An examination may disclose an empty rectum, in which case it is ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Constipation is a common complaint that must be accurately defined by the patient before initiating an extensive evaluation. Constipation may include fewer than three bowel movements (BMs) in a week, excessive straining during BMs, a feeling of incomplete evacuation after... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Constipation is a common complaint, accounting for 3% of all pediatric office visits. Stool frequency can be variable in infants, who average 4 per day (SD 1.8) at 1 week, 2.2 per day (SD 1.6) at 1 month, and 1.8 per day (SD 1.2) at 1 year. After 4 years of age,... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... The causes of constipation can be recalled on a physiologic basis. Normal defecation requires feces that are of proper consistency, good muscular contraction of the walls of the large intestine, and unobstructed passage of the stool. It follows that constipation
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... Sometimes audible without a stethoscope, hyperactive bowel sounds reflect increased intestinal motility (peristalsis). They're commonly characterized as rapid, rushing, gurgling waves of sounds. (See Characteristics of bowel sounds.) They may stem from life... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Hypoactive bowel sounds, detected by auscultation, are diminished in regularity, tone, and loudness from normal bowel sounds. In themselves, hypoactive bowel sounds don't herald an emergency; in fact, they're considered normal during sleep. However... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations
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... Fecal breath odor typically accompanies fecal vomiting associated with a long-standing intestinal obstruction or gastrojejunocolic fistula. It represents an important late diagnostic clue to a potentially life-threatening GI disorder because... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination
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... Constipation is defined as small, infrequent, or difficult bowel movements. Because normal bowel movements can vary in frequency and from individual to individual, constipation is relative and must be determined in relation to the patient's normal elimination pattern.... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Behavioral/Psychiatric Factors
Low-residue diet
Chronic laxative and/or enema abuse
Immobility
Reduced food intake
Repressed urge to defecate
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... Sometimes audible without a stethoscope, hyperactive bowel sounds reflect increased intestinal motility (peristalsis). They’re commonly characterized as rapid, rushing, gurgling waves of sounds. (See Characteristics of bowel sounds.) They may stem... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Hypoactive bowel sounds, detected by auscultation, are diminished in regularity, tone, and loudness from normal bowel sounds. In themselves, hypoactive bowel sounds don’t herald an emergency; in fact, they’re considered normal during sleep. However,... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Fecal breath odor typically accompanies fecal vomiting associated with a long-standing intestinal obstruction or gastrojejunocolic fistula. It represents an important late diagnostic clue to a potentially life-threatening GI disorder because complete... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling
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... Constipation is defined as small, infrequent, or difficult bowel movements. Because normal bowel movements can vary in frequency and from individual to individual, constipation must be determined in relation to the patient’s normal elimination pattern. Constipation may be a... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... W. Robert Kiser
Approach Constipation, defined as the passage of two or fewer stools per week (1), is the most frequently reported gastrointestinal (GI) complaint in primary care, responsible for as many as 1.25 million... History ... Physical examination ... Diagnostic testing ... Diagnostic assessment
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... Differential Overview
❑ Lifestyle
❑ Drugs
❑ Depression
❑ Irritable bowel syndrome
❑ Pelvic... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings
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... Also known as lazy colon, colonic stasis, colonic inertia, and atonic constipation, chronic constipation may lead to fecal impaction if left untreated. It’s common in elderly and disabled people because of their inactivity and is commonly relieved with diet and... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Sometimes audible without a stethoscope, hyperactive bowel sounds reflect increased intestinal motility (peristalsis). They’re commonly characterized as rapid, rushing, gurgling waves of sound. (See Characteristics of bowel sounds.) They may stem from life... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Fecal breath odor typically accompanies fecal vomiting associated with a long-standing intestinal obstruction or gastrojejunocolic fistula. It represents an important late diagnostic clue to a potentially life-threatening GI disorder because complete obstruction of any... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
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... Sometimes audible without a stethoscope, hyperactive bowel sounds reflect increased intestinal motility (peristalsis). They’re commonly characterized as rapid, rushing, gurgling waves of sounds. (See Characterizing bowel sounds, page 98.) They may stem from life-threatening bowel... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Hypoactive bowel sounds, detected by auscultation, are diminished in regularity, tone, and loudness from normal bowel sounds. They may portend absent bowel sounds, which can indicate a life-threatening disorder.
Hypoactive bowel sounds result from decreased... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Fecal breath odor typically accompanies fecal vomiting associated with a long-standing intestinal obstruction or gastrojejunocolic fistula. It represents an important late diagnostic clue to a potentially life-threatening GI disorder because complete obstruction of any part of the bowel, if... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Constipation is defined as small, infrequent, or difficult bowel movements. Because normal bowel movements can vary in frequency and from individual to individual, constipation must be determined in relation to the patient’s normal... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Constipationis difficult passage of hard stools. Clinical problem is not infrequent passageper se, but difficult and painful bowel movements. Common manifestations include crampyabdominal pain, abdominal distension, anorexia, irritability,... Principal Causes of Constipation ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References
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... Sometimes audible without a stethoscope, hyperactive bowel sounds reflect increased intestinal motility (peristalsis). They're commonly characterized as rapid, rushing, gurgling waves of sounds. (See Characteristics of bowel sounds, page 90.)
They may... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Hypoactive bowel sounds, detected by auscultation, are diminished in regularity, tone, and loudness from normal bowel sounds. They don't herald an emergency; in fact, they're considered normal during sleep. Hypoactive bowel sounds may portend absent bowel sounds, which can... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fecal breath odor typically accompanies fecal vomiting associated with a long-standing intestinal obstruction or gastrojejunocolic fistula. It represents an important late diagnostic clue to a potentially life-threatening GI disorder because complete obstruction of any part of... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Constipation is defined as small, infrequent, or difficult bowel movements. Because normal bowel movements can vary in frequency and from individual to individual, constipation is relative and must be determined in relation to the patient's... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
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The causes of constipation can be recalled on a physiologic basis.
Normal defecation requires feces that are of proper consistency, good
muscular contraction of the walls of the large intestine, and unobstructed
passage of the stool.... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
Some people undergoing chemotherapy experience diarrhea. When the diarrhea is severe, doctors are sometimes forced to cut back on the cancer...
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) has been working on behalf of people with inflammatory bowel disease for decades. One of...
The kitchen is where problems sometimes start and where solutions are often found for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). For the latest on...
Few diseases generate as many misconceptions as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Listen to host Bettina Gregory and two...