Faecal pancreatic elastase Health Dictionary

A condition in which a large mass of hard faeces cannot be evacuated from the rectum. It is usually associated with long-standing constipation. Faecal impaction is most common in very young children and in the elderly, especially those who are bedridden.

The main symptoms are an intense desire to pass a bowel movement; pain in the rectum, anus, and centre of the abdomen; and, in some cases, watery faeces that are passed around the mass. Treatment is with enemas or by manual removal of the faecal mass.... faecal impaction

Inability to retain faeces in the rectum until a movement appropriate to expel them. A common cause is faecal impaction, which often results from long-standing constipation. The rectum becomes overfull causing faecal fluid and small pieces of faeces to be passed involuntarily around the impacted mass of faeces. Temporary loss of continence may also occur in severe diarrhoea. Other causes include injury to the anal muscles (as may occur during childbirth), paraplegia, and dementia.

If the underlying cause of faecal impaction is constipation, recurrence may be prevented by a high-fibre diet. Suppositories containing glycerol or laxative drugs may be recommended. Faecal incontinence in people with dementia or a nerve disorder may be avoided by regular use of enemas or suppositories to empty the rectum.... incontinence, faecal

The presence in the faeces of blood that cannot be seen by the naked eye, but can be detected by chemical tests. Such tests are widely used in screening for cancer of the colon (see colon, cancer of). Faecal occult blood may also be a sign of a gastrointestinal disorder such as oesophagitis, gastritis, or stomach cancer; cancer of the intestine (see intestine, cancer of); rectal cancer (see rectum, cancer of); diverticular disease; polyps in the colon; ulcerative colitis; or irritation of the stomach or intestine by drugs such as aspirin. (See also rectal bleeding.)... occult blood, faecal

n. an enzyme that breaks down various proteins including elastin, which has a role in the connective tissue matrix. Pancreatic elastase, secreted by the pancreas, is not degraded in the small or large intestine; therefore its concentration in the stools expresses the functioning of the pancreas, which is the basis for the faecal pancreatic elastase test. In patients who have suspected pancreatic insufficiency, faecal pancreatic elastase is suppressed or absent. Patients at risk include those with chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, or previous pancreatic surgery.... elastase

see calprotectin.... faecal calprotectin

see incontinence.... faecal incontinence

(FOBT) a noninvasive test used to identify microscopic blood (see occult) in faeces. It is widely used as a screening test for colorectal cancer.... faecal occult blood test

(PERT) a therapeutic approach using supplements of the digestive enzymes lipase, amylase, and protease (Creon, Pancrex), which are given when there is insufficient endogenous production of pancreatic enzymes: for example, to patients with pancreatic cancer or cystic fibrosis. The capsules must be taken with all meals and snacks to be effective. PERT treats the symptoms of *steatorrhoea.... pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy

the digestive juice secreted by the *pancreas. Its production is stimulated by hormones secreted by the duodenum, which in turn is stimulated by contact with food from the stomach. If the duodenum produces the hormone *secretin the pancreatic juice contains a large amount of sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidity of the stomach contents. Another hormone (see cholecystokinin) stimulates the production of a juice rich in digestive enzymes, including trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen (which are converted to *trypsin and *chymotrypsin in the duodenum), *amylase, *lipase, and *maltase.... pancreatic juice

a hormone released from the D cells of the *islets of Langerhans of the pancreas in response to protein in the small intestine. Its actions are to inhibit pancreatic bicarbonate and protein enzyme secretion and to relax the gall bladder. It belongs to a family of similar hormones that have actions on appetite and food metabolism.... pancreatic polypeptide