Chronic constipation presenting as acute respiratory distress because of mediastinal shift

Acute respiratory distress syndrome and feculent airway casts due to severe constipation

“…The literature rarely reports presentations of severe constipation leading to respiratory failure in the pediatric population 3 . Severe constipation can cause considerable abdominal distention that mimics patients with ascites or pregnancy.…”

“…Although she presented with the triad of symptoms concerning for volvulus (abdominal pain, distension, and constipation), this was not seen on diagnostic modalities. 2 The literature rarely reports presentations of severe constipation leading to respiratory failure in the pediatric population 3 .…”

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Feculent Airway Casts due to Severe Constipation

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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a disabling and potentially lethal syndrome requiring prompt recognition and urgent interventions to prevent morbidity and mortality [1]. Although constipation is not generally recognized as a cause for ARDS or usually listed within the differential diagnosis, there have been case reports describing such an association [2,3]. We present the case of a patient with history of intermittent constipation presenting with progressive abdominal pain and an acute abdomen that required emergent surgical fecal decompaction.

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