Overflow diarrhoea

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 25 Aug 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Bell D, Overflow diarrhoea. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-68276

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-68276

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/68276

rID:

68276

Article created:

22 May 2019, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Last revised:

25 Aug 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 1 contributor - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gastrointestinal

Synonyms:

Overflow diarrhea
Overflow diarrhoeas

Faecal impaction is a sequela of long term constipation, whereby a hard faecal mass in the rectum prevents defaecation from occurring. The resultant rectal dilatation leads to smooth muscle relaxation of the internal anal sphincter. Concurrently the obstructing stool mass leads to increased secretions in the upstream colon. This combination of secretions and particulate and fluid stool matter seeps around the rectal faeces. This may be reported by the patient as diarrhoea, for which the clinicians may apply the misnomer overflow diarrhoea.