HYPOXIA AND CHEST PAIN DUE TO ACUTE CONSTIPATION - AN UNDERDIAGNOSED CONDITION

An obese, previously healthy, 10-year-old boy presented with acute res piratory distress, chest, and abdominal pain. He was hypoxic and dyspn eic in the emergency room. The abdomen was distended and tender, and t he rectum was full of hard stool. Following catharsis, he made a compl ete recovery with resolution of all clinical signs. A review of the li terature reveals that acute constipation as a cause of hypoxia and res piratory distress has been recognized. but has rarely been reported. W e believe that this is a common phenomenon but probably infrequently r ecognized. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.