Fecal Matters

hard abdominal mass, fecal seepage, pain, abdominal distention and lack of bowel movements are all signs and symptoms of what?

fecal impaction

signs and symptoms of fecal impaction include:

hard abdominal mass, fecal seepage, pain, abdominal distention and lack of bowel movements

risk factors of fecal impaction include:

diet, certain meds, prolonged constipation or retention

melena

black stool

melena, or black stool, indicates what?

upper GI tract bleeding

signs of rectal mass include:

narrow or thin stools (macaroni stools), rectal bleeding, incomplete bowel emptying and constipation

macaroni stools, rectal bleeding, incomplete bowel emptying and constipation are all signs of what?

rectal mass

signs and symptoms of constipation include:

headache (due to straining), pain upon defecation and abdominal pain and fullness

contraindications for nurses to perform fecal disimpaction:

rectal prolapse, cachexia, ulcerative colitis, divericulitis, any rectal abnormlaities like severe hemorrhoids or bleeding, acute cardiovascular illness