Gastroenterology · UKMLA & AKT
Constipation
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise constipation — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Classic and frequently overlooked cause of acute-onset confusion in elderly patients - visceral discomfort and autonomic stress from colonic distension triggers delirium in a vulnerable brain
- Clues: palpable fullness in the left iliac fossa, mild abdominal discomfort, no fever, normal observations
Always consider constipation before attributing new confusion to infection or dementia progression - it is one of the most common presentations in elderly inpatients.
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