Disease Information for Obstipation

A decrease in a person's normal frequency of defecation accompanied by difficult or incomplete passage of stool and/or passage of excessively hard, dry stool. Defining Characteristics: *Change in bowel pattern; *bright red blood with stool; *presence of soft paste-like stool in rectum; *distended abdomen; *bark or black or tarry stool; *increased abdominal pressure; *percussed abdominal dullness; *pain with defecation; *decreased volume of stool; straining with defecation; decreased frequency; dry, hard, formed stool; palpable rectal mass; feeling of rectal fullness or pressure; abdominal pain; *unable to pass stool; *anorexia; headache; *change in abdominal growling (borborygmi); *indigestion; *atypical presentations in older adults (e.g., change in mental status, urinary incontinence, unexplained falls, elevated body temperature); *severe flatus; *generalized fatigue; *hypoactive or hyperactive bowel sounds; *palpable abdominal mass; *abdominal tenderness with or without palpable muscle resistance; *nausea and /or vomiting; *oozing liquid stool. Related Factors: Functional : *Recent environmental changes; *habitual denial/ignoring of urge to defecate; *insufficient physical activity; *irregular defecation habits; *inadequate toileting, (e.g. timeliness, positioning for defecation, privacy); *abdominal muscle weakness Psychological: *Depression; *emotional stress; *mental confusion Pharmacological: *Antilipemic agents; *laxative overdose; *calcium carbonate; *aluminum-containing antacids; *nonsteriodal anti-flammatory agents; *opiates; *anticholinergics; *diuretics; *iron salts; *phenothiazides; *sedatives; *sympathomimetics; *bismuth salts; *antidepressants; *calcium channel blockers Mechanical: *Rectal abcess or ulcer; *pregnancy; *rectal anal fissures; *tumors; *megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease); *electrolyte imbalance; *rectal prolapse; *prostate enlargement; *neurological impairment; *rectal anal stricture; *rectocele; *postsurgical obstruction; *hemorrhoids; *obesity Physiological: *Poor eating habits; *decreased motility of gastrointestinal tract; *inadequate dentition or oral hygiene; *insufficient fiber intake; *insufficient fluid intake; *change in usual foods and eating patterns; *dehyration Note: The definition was revised in the 1998 DRC review process; *marks revised defining characteristics and related factors. This revision was submitted by NDEC.

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