How do you describe constipation in a physical exam?
The presence of thrombosed external hemorrhoids, skin tags, rectal prolapse, anal fissure, anal warts, excoriation or evidence of pruritus ani due to fecal soiling on physical examination are suggestive of constipation. Patients with chronic constipation usually appear to be discomfort while sitting due to anal pain.
How do you describe constipation?
Having lumpy or hard stools. Straining to have bowel movements. Feeling as though there’s a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements. Feeling as though you can’t completely empty the stool from your rectum.
How do you describe constipation in stool?
Symptoms of constipation include: You have fewer than three bowel movements a week. Your stools are dry, hard and/or lumpy. Your stools are difficult or painful to pass.
What are associated assessment findings for constipation?
These are:
- Persistent unexplained change in bowel habit.
- Palpable mass in the lower right abdomen or the pelvis.
- Persistent rectal bleeding without anal symptoms.
- Narrowing of stool calibre.
- Family history of colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease.
How do you evaluate a patient with constipation?
Diagnosis
- Blood tests.
- An X-ray.
- Examination of the rectum and lower, or sigmoid, colon (sigmoidoscopy).
- Examination of the rectum and entire colon (colonoscopy).
- Evaluation of anal sphincter muscle function (anorectal manometry).
- Evaluation of anal sphincter muscle speed (balloon expulsion test).
How do you describe poop to a doctor?
The shape and form of your poop may also point your doctor toward a diagnosis of some digestive problems. The ideal stool is generally type 3 or 4, easy to pass without being too watery. If yours is type 1 or 2, you’re probably constipated. Types 5, 6, and 7 tend toward diarrhea.
What is objective data for constipation?
A patient’s perception of constipation may include not only the objective observation of infrequent bowel movements but also the subjective complaints of straining at stooling, incomplete evacuation, abdominal bloating or pain, hard or small stools, or a need for digital manipulation to enable defecation.
Can constipation be palpated?
The physical examination pertinent to constipation has two parts. On abdominal exam, the clinician should look for signs of distension. Palpation, especially in thin patients, may reveal hard, palpable stool in the ascending, descending, and sigmoid segments of the colon.
How do you document a bowel assessment?
Documentation of a basic, normal abdominal exam should look something along the lines of the following: Abdomen is soft, symmetric, and non-tender without distention. There are no visible lesions or scars. The aorta is midline without bruit or visible pulsation.
What is the scientific name of constipation?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Constipation. Other names. Costiveness, dyschezia.
What consistency is poop?
Ideally, your stool should be somewhere between firm and soft. Thankfully you can figure this out just by looking at it – there’s no need to do a touch test. If your poop is a well-formed log and it wasn’t too hard to squeeze out, it’s probably the right consistency.