Fecal vomiting is always an alarming symptom. This is one of the manifestations of gastrointestinal obstruction. A blockage forms in the colon. The cause of this condition may also be the formation of a fistula between the stomach and intestines. Usually this symptom manifests itself a day after the occurrence of obstruction. It indicates a serious pathology. Therefore, each person needs to know about the causes of fecal vomiting and first aid in this serious condition.
Causes
The intestines can become clogged with gallstones and feces, foreign bodies, tumors, as well as an accumulation of helminths. The cause of obstruction can also be a violation of peristalsis: spasms or excessive relaxation of the body. In these cases, the stool can not move further along the intestines, accumulate and go out with vomiting. In this case, dehydration of the body develops.
Intestinal obstruction is the main cause of fecal vomiting. A symptom of pathology is also a significant decrease in bowel movements. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. A complication of intestinal obstruction can be peritonitis, sepsis and intoxication of the body.
Another cause of fecal vomiting is a fistula in the digestive tract. In this case, an anastomosis is formed between the stomach and the colon. As a result, feces enter the upper gastrointestinal tract and exit with vomit.
Clinical picture
Fecal vomiting in humans is always a sign of advanced disease. Indeed, for the formation of an obstruction of the intestine or fistula, a rather long period is required. Long before the onset of gastrointestinal obstruction, the patient may experience the following symptoms:
- spastic pain in the abdomen;
- rare bowel movements;
- general malaise;
- weakness;
- fever.
These signs indicate increasing intoxication of the body. Then the intestine becomes completely impassable, and vomiting occurs in feces. This condition is also accompanied by the following symptoms:
- heaviness and pain in the abdomen;
- a sharp decrease in bowel movements;
- bloating;
- sharp weakness.
A characteristic sign of bowel obstruction or fistula is the smell of feces from the patient’s mouth and from vomit. Bloating increases over time. Vomiting occurs several times a day and does not bring relief.
Fecal discolored vomiting
The combination of vomiting with black, white and green feces is not associated with bowel obstruction. When the gastrointestinal blockage occurs, the contents of the stomach usually have an unpleasant odor, but the feces rarely change color. If the patient has vomiting and an unusual color of feces appears, then this is caused by other reasons. In such conditions, the intestinal contents do not exit through the esophagus, but are removed from the body naturally through the anus.
Dark coffee-colored vomiting and excrement of black feces are usually associated with bleeding from the digestive tract. Red blood clots may be present in the excreted mass. Such vomiting can occur with ulcerative processes in the stomach or duodenum. In this case, you need to urgently call an ambulance, since bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible.
Vomiting and excretion of white feces is usually a sign of hepatic pathology. This can be a symptom of hepatitis, tumors, and gallstones. Usually, at the same time, a person feels severe weakness, pain on the right side under the ribs. Weight loss is noted. With these symptoms, you must consult a doctor and take an analysis for bilirubin.
Green vomiting and diarrhea can occur with severe food poisoning. It can also be a sign of infectious pathologies (rotavirus, giardiasis), intolerance to certain products and medicines. In some cases, vomiting and excrement of green feces are symptoms of internal diseases:
- diabetes mellitus;
- ulcerative colitis;
- inflammation of the small intestine;
- Crohn's disease.
If such a symptom is noted for a long time, then you must consult a doctor and undergo a diagnosis.
First aid
Fecal vomiting is a dangerous symptom. Therefore, you must immediately call an ambulance. Bowel blockage can only be treated surgically, since conservative therapy does not always help.
Before the doctor arrives, the patient needs first aid:
- The patient needs to ensure complete peace.
- In order to prevent the intestinal contents from entering the respiratory organs, it is necessary to give the patient the correct position. His head should be turned on its side or below the level of the chest.
- Vomiting should not be stopped. The body must be completely cleansed.
- You should not take laxatives and antiemetics, as well as do cleansing enemas. This will only aggravate a serious condition.
- The patient should not eat food, you can only drink water in a small amount.
- It is necessary to control blood pressure and patient consciousness.
Further assistance to the patient is provided by the ambulance team. In most cases, the patient is placed in a hospital.
Diagnostics
Bowel obstruction is detected during the examination of the patient. A characteristic symptom of pathology is an unpleasant stool from the patient's mouth. The doctor palpates the abdomen. In this case, severe bloating is detected.
Additionally prescribed x-ray and ultrasound examination. This helps to determine in which part of the intestine obstruction has formed. The diagnosis is confirmed if the extension of intestinal loops at the lesion site, as well as the accumulation of fluid and gases, is determined in the abdominal cavity.
If necessary, laparoscopy and colonoscopy are prescribed. These examinations reveal the presence of tumors. Sometimes a piece of the affected tissue is taken for a biopsy. In some cases, during colonoscopy, the intestines are cleaned with an endotracheal tube. This treatment helps with obstruction with fecal stones or a foreign body.
Conservative therapy
In mild cases, bowel obstruction is eliminated by conservative methods. The patient must be completely calm and refrain from eating until the end of vomiting.
A probe is inserted through the nasal passage into the stomach. This helps to remove vomit. Then the patient is given injections of antispasmodics (No-Shpy, Papaverina) and analgesics (Baralgina, Sedalgina).
Also, to remove spasms, the drug "Proserin" is administered subcutaneously. With severe dehydration, droppers with sodium chloride are prescribed.
If obstruction is caused by an accumulation of fecal stones, then cleansing and siphon enemas are indicated.
Surgery
If conservative therapy is ineffective, and the patient's condition does not improve within 2 hours, then surgery is necessary. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor makes a midline incision in the abdominal wall and eliminates the mechanical obstruction that caused the obstruction. If the blockage was caused by a tumor, then it is necessary to remove part of the intestine along with the neoplasm.
Forecast
The prognosis of diseases accompanied by fecal vomiting is always very serious. The outcome of the pathology depends on the timeliness of treatment. If acute bowel obstruction was resolved within the first 6 hours, then most patients will recover completely.
Running forms of bowel blockage can end fatally. Inflammation (peritonitis) develops in the peritoneum, and then sepsis. Blood poisoning leads to multiple organ failure and death.
Prevention
To prevent the occurrence of fecal vomiting, it is necessary to cure intestinal diseases in a timely manner. It is also necessary to regularly undergo a colonoscopic examination. This will help to identify colon tumors in time.
If the patient underwent surgery due to intestinal obstruction, then he needs to adhere to a diet. Fiber-rich foods and spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. Food should be consumed often in small portions. This will avoid a relapse of the disease.