Faecal stasis in the intestine paralysis in the leg and mortal danger

Massive constipation of a 57-year-old Australian ended almost deadly

Palsy symptoms in the right leg, severe digestive problems, and a bloated stomach brought a 57-year-old Australian to the emergency room. Here the doctors found an unusual explanation for the appearance of the complaints. The case was described in the journal "BMJ Case Reports".

The physicians at Footscray Hospital in Australia faced a patient whose symptoms at first sight seemed difficult to relate to each other: His stomach was bloated, he complained of severe digestive problems, and at the same time showed signs of paralysis and pain in his right leg. All symptoms, however, went back to the same trigger, so the surprising result of the subsequent investigations. The 57-year-old suffered from the life-threatening abdominal compartment syndrome.

Extreme pressure in the abdomen

The Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is "associated with significant morbidity and mortality," according to the medical team, so immediate treatment is needed. The syndrome is triggered by enormous pressure in the abdomen, although in the current case, it was initially unclear why the pressure in the abdomen was so increased in the otherwise healthy 57-year-old. The blood levels also provided evidence of severe metabolic acidosis (life-threatening) and renal dysfunction, the medical researchers report.

Stagnation of faeces in the intestine

Subsequently conducted investigations by means of computer tomography led the physicians the cause of the problems clearly before eyes. The patient had massive fecal impaction - a stagnation of faeces in the colon. This extreme form of constipation led to a significant increase in pressure in the intestine, causing it to expand in the abdominal area and, among other things, an occlusion of the right common iliac artery (occlusion of the right iliac artery), explain the doctors. Overall, the patient was in an acute life-threatening condition.

Emergency surgery has saved the patient

In a promptly initiated intensive medical care, an operative elimination of the enormous amounts of stool from the patient's intestine was made and thus provided for a decisive pressure relief. Although initially significant renal dysfunction was evident and the man was dependent on dialysis for several days, he was able to leave the clinic about three weeks after admission to Footscray Hospital. Today, he has recovered completely, according to the doctors. Why the extreme amounts of faeces have jammed in the large intestine of the patient, the physicians could not explain. (Fp)