Rectal tenesmus

 ( Digestive System And Abdomen ) 

Rectal tenesmus is a feeling of incomplete defecation.

It is the sensation of inability or difficulty to empty the bowel at defecation, even if the bowel contents have already been evacuated. Tenesmus indicates the feeling of a residue, and is not always correlated with the actual presence of residual fecal matter in the rectum. It is frequently painful and may be accompanied by involuntary straining and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Tenesmus has both a nociception and a neuropathic pain component.

Often, rectal tenesmus is simply called tenesmus. The term rectal tenesmus is a retronym to distinguish defecation-related tenesmus from vesical tenesmus. Vesical tenesmus is a similar condition, experienced as a feeling of incomplete urination despite the bladder being empty.

Tenesmus is a closely related topic to obstructed defecation. The term is , , .

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Considerations Tenesmus is characterized by a sensation of needing to pass stool, accompanied by pain, cramping, and straining. Despite straining, little stool is passed. Tenesmus is generally associated with inflammatory diseases of the bowel, which may be caused by either infectious or noninfectious conditions. Conditions associated with tenesmus include:

• Amoebiasis
• Chronic arsenic poisoning
• Coeliac disease
• Colorectal cancer
• melanoma
• Cystocele
• Cytomegalovirus (in immunocompromised patients)
• Diverticular disease
• Dysentery
• Hemorrhoid, which are prolapsed
• Imperforate hymen
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ischemic colitis
• , when a stone is lodged in the lower ureter Nephrolithiasis: Acute Renal Colic , Stephen W Leslie. eMedicine.
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Radiation proctitis
• Rectal gonorrhea
• Rectal lymphogranuloma venereum
• Rectal parasitic infection, particularly Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
• Rectocele
• Shigellosis
• Ulcerative colitis

Tenesmus (rectal) is also associated with the installation of either a reversible or non reversible stoma where rectal disease may or may not be present. Patients who experience tenesmus as a result of stoma installation can experience the symptoms of tenesmus for the duration of the stoma presence. Long term pain management may need to be considered as a result.

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Treatment Pain relief is administered concomitantly to the treatment of the primary disease causing tenesmus.

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See also

• Constipation
• Encopresis
• Fecal incontinence

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