Giant fecaloma with idiopathic sigmoid megacolon: report of a case and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Fecal impaction is a common condition, and " fecaloma" is an extreme variety of impaction. This is a report of a giant, solitary, and stubborn fecaloma not responding to nonoperative management. A surgical intervention for uncomplicated fecal impaction is rarely needed and reported in the literature.


METHODS
A 39-year-old male patient with constipation presented with a firm, mobile, abdominal mass of six-months duration. Investigations revealed an isolated, giant fecaloma in a redundant sigmoid megacolon. After all the conservative measures were unsuccessful in evacuating the stubborn impaction, he was treated by sigmoid colectomy and primary anastomosis.


CONCLUSIONS
A timely surgical intervention in recalcitrant fecal impactions may prevent possible stercoral ulcer perforation with a high mortality.
Rajagopal
Ambil
A
Department of Surgery, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, India.
Martin
Joseph
J
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003082:Colectomy; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*