Mechanical mobilization of feces

Mechanical mobilization of feces, also known as manual or digital disimpaction, is a physical procedure performed to break up and remove impacted stool from the rectum or distal colon. It is typically indicated when fecal impaction does not respond to pharmacologic or osmotic methods such as laxatives, enemas, or suppositories, or when immediate relief is required. The provider uses one or more gloved, lubricated fingers to gently break up and extract the hardened stool, sometimes aided by tools such as an anoscope or suction. The intervention can provide rapid relief from severe constipation or obstructive fecal masses but carries risks of pain, mucosal injury, bleeding, infection, and rare but serious complications like rectal perforation. This procedure is not a molecular target or pharmacological receptor and should not be listed as such in drug-target databases. This intervention is a clinical procedure, not a molecular or pharmacological target, and should be categorized as a therapeutic procedure or intervention for fecal impaction.

Other names

mechanical fecal disimpactionmanual disimpactiondigital disimpactionmechanical mobilization of stoolmanual evacuation