| Fecal urgency | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Gastroenterology, colorectal surgery |
Fecal urgency (also termed bowel urgency, rectal urgency or defecation urgency) is a medical symptom where there is a sudden, strong need to defecate that is difficult to defer. [1] The difference between fecal urgency and urge fecal incontinence is that in fecal urgency the person usually has enough time to reach a toilet and there is no involuntary leakage of stool. In urge fecal incontinence, there is a sudden, strong urge to defecate (fecal urgency), and the person has little or no ability to prevent defecation. [2] Fecal urgency warning time is the length of time from the first sensation of need to defecate until voluntary defecation or incontinence. [1]
Fecal urgency is associated with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, pelvic floor dysfunction, and previous radiotherapy directed at the pelvis or rectum. [3] It may also occur after certain surgical procedures such as stapled trans-anal rectal resection. [4]