title: Faecal impaction causing bilateral pelvic venous thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a first description of faecal impaction (FI) causing occlusion of the pelvic venous system, resulting in a bilateral thrombosis of the external iliac vein.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our 76-year-old female patient was admitted with gradual swelling of both legs. Clinical evaluation revealed a painless abdominal distension and marked bilateral edema of the legs. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed gross dilatation of the colon and rectum, with FI. A short bilateral occlusion of the external iliac vein was seen, with thrombus in both pelvic veins. Doppler ultrasonography confirmed a thrombosis of the external iliac vein and common femoral vein on both sides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A conservative treatment consisting of manual evacuation, enema, laxatives and systemic anticoagulation was successfully applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FI represents a common - yet preventable - health problem, mainly in the elderly. This case illustrates a rare complication of FI if left untreated.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Vascular Surgery , AZ Sint Lucas , Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1945-5481
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.affiliation: a Department of Vascular Surgery , AZ Sint Lucas , Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blomme
authors.affiliation: a Department of Vascular Surgery , AZ Sint Lucas , Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coucke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Faecal impaction; iliac vein; venous thrombosis