Korean J Med.
2011 Feb;80(2):187-192.
Clinical Outcomes of Stercoral Colitis
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea. gi@gnah.co.kr
- 2Department of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
Abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIMS
Stercoral colitis is an inflammatory condition related to increased intraluminal pressure, itself caused by impacted fecal material. Stercoral colitis is a rare condition and has a generally poor prognosis. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of stercoral colitis according to management strategy.
METHODS
From January 2004 to August 2009, 11 patients were diagnosed with stercoral colitis at our center. The medical records of these individuals were reviewed retrospectively with regard to the clinical characteristics, management strategy, and clinical outcomes. We defined severe stercoral colitis as stercoral colitis complicated by systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, or septic shock.
RESULTS
Eleven patients (three men and eight women) with a mean age of 70+/-8 years were included. Ten patients were elderly with constipation as a predisposing factor. Nine patients had severe stercoral colitis according to out criteria. Of these, five patients underwent surgery, and the other four were treated with a conservative management strategy. One patient (20%) in the surgical group and all patients in the conservative management group (n=4) died.
CONCLUSIONS
Stercoral colitis should be considered in elderly patients with predisposing factors and presents as fecal impaction with colonic wall thickening or pericolic fat stranding on CT scan. In patients with severe stercoral colitis, early surgery may be effective in reducing mortality.
