Conditions that Might Affect the Brain

摘要

A 31-year-old man with a history of traumatic brain injury was hospitalized because of failure to thrive, constipation, and intermittent diarrhea with soiling.A palpable lower abdominal mass was noted. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed retained stool in the rectum, a rectosigmoid colon dilated to 15 cm (long arrow), and compression of the bladder (short arrow).Regular bowel care is a fundamental but frequently overlooked component in the care of patients with CNS dysfunction. Blunted rectal sensation may account for a lack of the desire to defecate. Soiling may occur because rectal distention elicits internal sphincter relaxation at a lower threshold, while external sphincter contraction is impaired.