Fecal vomiting is always an alarming symptom. This is one of the manifestations of obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. A blockage forms in the large intestine. The cause of this condition may also be the formation of a fistula between the stomach and intestines. Usually this symptom appears a day after the onset of obstruction. It indicates a serious pathology. Therefore, every person needs to know about the causes of fecal vomiting and first aid for this serious condition.
Reasons
Intestines can be clogged with gallstones and fecal stones, foreign bodies, tumors, and accumulation of helminths. The cause of obstruction can also be a violation of peristalsis: spasms or excessive relaxation of the organ. In these cases, the feces cannot move further through the intestines, accumulate and come out with vomiting. At the same time, dehydration of the body develops.
Intestinal obstruction is the main cause of fecal vomiting. A symptom of pathology is also a significant decrease in defecation. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Peritonitis, sepsis and intoxication of the body can become a complication of intestinal obstruction.
Another cause of fecal vomiting is a fistula in the gastrointestinal tract. This forms an anastomosis 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 an advanced disease. Indeed, for the formation of blockage of the intestine or fistula, a rather long period is required. Long before the onset of manifestations 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 the growing intoxication of the body. Then the intestine becomes completely impassable, and vomiting of feces occurs. This condition is also accompanied by the following symptoms:
- heaviness and pain in the abdomen;
- drastic decrease in bowel movements;
- bloating;
- sharp weakness.
A characteristic sign of intestinal obstruction or fistula is the smell of feces from the patient's mouth and vomit. Bloating increases over time. Vomiting occurs several timesonce a day with no relief.
Vomiting with discoloration of feces
Combination of vomiting with black, white and green stools is not associated with bowel obstruction. When the GI tract is blocked, 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 due to other reasons. Under such conditions, the contents of the intestine do not exit through the esophagus, but are removed from the body naturally through the anus.
Dark coffee-colored vomiting and black stools are usually associated with bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. Red blood clots may be present in the secreted masses. Such vomiting can be observed with ulcerative processes in the stomach or duodenum. In this case, you need to urgently call an ambulance, as the bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible.
Vomiting and excreting white feces is usually a sign of liver disease. It can be a symptom of hepatitis, tumors, and gallstones. Usually, a person feels severe weakness, pain on the right side under the ribs. Weight loss is noted. With such symptoms, you should consult a doctor and get tested for bilirubin.
Vomiting and green diarrhea can occur with severe food poisoning. It can also be a sign of infectious pathologies (rotavirus, giardiasis), intolerance to certain foods and medicines. In some cases, vomiting and passing green stools are symptomsinternal medicine:
- diabetes;
- ulcerative colitis;
- inflammation of the small intestine;
- Crohn's disease.
If this symptom persists for a long time, then you need to see a doctor and get diagnosed.
First Aid
Fecal vomiting is a dangerous symptom. Therefore, you must immediately call an ambulance. Intestinal blockage can only be cured with surgery, as conservative therapy does not always help.
Before the doctor arrives, the patient needs first aid:
- The patient needs complete rest.
- In order to avoid getting the contents of the intestine into the respiratory system, it is necessary to give the patient the correct position. His head should be turned to the side or below chest level.
- Vomiting should not be stopped. The body must be completely cleansed.
- Do not take laxatives, antiemetics or cleansing enemas. This will only make things worse.
- The patient should not eat food, only drink water in small quantities.
- It is necessary to control blood pressure and the patient's consciousness.
Further assistance to the patient is provided by the ambulance team. In most cases, the patient is admitted to the hospital.
Diagnosis
Intestinal blockage is detected during the examination of the patient. A characteristic symptom of the pathology is an unpleasant fecal odor from the patient's mouth. The doctor performs palpation of the abdomen. Atthis reveals severe swelling.
Additionally, X-ray and ultrasound examinations are prescribed. This helps to determine in which part of the intestine an obstruction has formed. The diagnosis is confirmed if the abdominal cavity is determined by the stretching of the intestinal loops at the site of the lesion, as well as the accumulation of fluid and gases.
If necessary, laparoscopy and colonoscopy are prescribed. These examinations reveal the presence of tumors. Sometimes a piece of affected tissue is taken for a biopsy. In some cases, during a colonoscopy, the intestines are cleaned with an endotracheal tube. This therapeutic measure helps with blockage by fecal stones or a foreign body.
Conservative Therapy
In mild cases, intestinal obstruction is eliminated by conservative methods. The patient must remain completely calm and refrain from eating until the end of vomiting.
The 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", "Papaverine") and analgesics ("Baralgina", "Sedalgina").
Also, to relieve spasms, the drug "Prozerin" is injected subcutaneously. For severe dehydration, sodium chloride drips are prescribed.
If the obstruction is caused by the accumulation of fecal stones, then cleansing and siphon enemas are indicated.
Surgical treatment
If conservative therapy isineffective, and the patient's condition does not improve within 2 hours, surgery is necessary. Surgical intervention is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor makes a median incision in the abdominal wall and removes the mechanical obstruction that caused the obstruction. If the blockage was caused by a tumor, then part of the intestine must be removed along with the tumor.
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 the acute bowel obstruction is resolved within the first 6 hours, most patients make a full recovery.
Advanced forms of intestinal blockage can end fatally. Inflammation (peritonitis) develops in the peritoneum, and then sepsis. Blood poisoning leads to multiple organ failure and death.
Prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of fecal vomiting, it is necessary to cure intestinal diseases in a timely manner. It is also necessary to undergo regular colonoscopy examination. This will help to detect colon tumors in time.
If the patient underwent surgery due to intestinal obstruction, then he needs to follow a diet. From the diet you need to exclude foods rich in fiber, and spicy dishes. Food should be eaten frequently and in small portions. This will prevent a recurrence of the disease.
