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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 ... 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... 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, 95–99% of healthy... 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
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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, they may portend absent bowel sounds... 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
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... Signs and Symptoms Depending on location of obstruction: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drowsiness, thirst, rebound tenderness, abdominal distention, dehydration, constipation
Treatment (Tx) ... 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.... 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 obstruction of any part of the... 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... 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 patient... History ... Physical examination ... Diagnostic testing ... Diagnostic assessment
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... Differential Overview
❑ Lifestyle
❑ Drugs
❑ Depression
❑ Irritable bowel syndrome
❑ Pelvic floor dysfunction ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings
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... An intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the lumen in the small or large bowel. A small-bowel obstruction is more common (90% of patients) and usually more serious. A complete obstruction in any part of the bowel, if untreated,... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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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... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... 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... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
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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... 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 elimination pattern. Constipation... 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, andurinary frequency. ... Principal Causes of Constipation ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References
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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... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
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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... 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 normal elimination pattern. Constipation may... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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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... Pictures
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... Author:
Cynthia Gibson, MD
What to Do - Interpret the Data
Intestinal obstruction, often atresia, presents in the first few days of life as
bilious vomiting sometimes accompanied by abdominal distention and failure to pass meconium. Infants are often... Suggested Readings
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... Vered Yehezkely-Schildkraut, MD
Raanan Shamir, MD
Intestinal Obstruction - BASICS
Intestinal Obstruction - description
Pathologic blockage of progression of ... Intestinal Obstruction - DIAGNOSIS ... Intestinal Obstruction - TREATMENT ... Intestinal Obstruction - FOLLOW UP ... Intestinal Obstruction - bibliography ... Intestinal Obstruction - CODES ... Intestinal Obstruction - FAQ
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