Intestinal obstruction: what is faecaloid vomiting?

By Cristiano Antonino On Jul 15, 2022

Faecaloid vomiting is a particular type of vomiting, characterised by the emission of dark, usually brown, foul-smelling, faecal-like material typical of intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction is the cessation of the progression of faecal matter and gas within the lumen of the digestive canal.

There are many causes of obstruction and the most frequent are:

hardened and accumulated faecal masses in the large intestine due to chronic constipation ;
large gallstones lodged in the intestine
tangled, ‘hank-like’ ascarids in the small intestine
cicatricial stenosis following intestinal ulcerative processes;
extrinsic compressions from intra-abdominal tumours;
kneading of some intestinal loop;
volvulus (twisting of a segment of the intestine);
stricture due to external or internal hernias etc.

Any obstruction that does not allow partially/totally formed faeces to exit through the anus is a potential cause of faecaloid vomiting.

Regurgitation of faecal material is often associated with certain symptoms:

patient’s ‘facies abdominalis’ (pale-grey complexion, sharp nose and sunken eyes);
small and frequent pulse;
intermittent colic pain;
meteorism;
general malaise.

If the obstruction occurs quickly and acutely and also involves the peritoneum, there may also be: