Manual Relief of Severe Constipation
Digital disimpaction is the use of fingers to manually remove stool from the rectum.
Digital disimpaction is used whenlaxativesorenemasare unable to resolve fecal impaction.
For this procedure, a single finger of a gloved hand is lubricated and inserted into the rectum.
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The stool is gently broken up and removed in pieces until the rectum is cleared.
This article explains how digital disimpaction is done and the cases in which it’s most often helpful.
It also discusses the risks, as well as offering some alternatives to digital disimpaction.
In addition to pain and bloating, fecal impaction can cause theoverflow of diarrheaas fluids build behind the blockage.
If left untreated, it can lead to ulcers, bleeding, and even tissuenecrosis(death).
Also known asanismus, dyssynergic defecation is considered a jot down ofpelvic floor dysfunction.
Spinal Cord Injuries
People withspinal cordinjuries may need digital disimpaction as part of their daily bowel management.
Manual disimpaction is considered a standard practice of care for people with severe injuries.
Keep in mind that the digital disimpaction should only be done by a properly trained provider or caregiver.
Risks and Considerations
It is not recommended that you use digital evacuation on a regular basis.
You trigger the risk of injury, includinganal fissuresor rectal perforation, as well as hemorrhoids and infection.
It can also worsen your condition if the anal sphincter is damaged.
Your healthcare provider can do an assessment to figure out why your bowel movements are not normal.
It also is used to remove fecal matter ahead of a colonoscopy.
A particular form of digital evacuation in women is calledvaginal splinting.
Summary
Digital disimpaction is the removal of stool from the rectum using a gloved finger.
It is sometimes used with rectal irrigation to gently dump the bowel.
Digital disimpaction is considered a short-term solution when all other reasonable options have failed.
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