Case Series Highlights Risks of Pulmonary Thromboembolism and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Patients With Developmental Disabilities
A recent case series published in The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology highlights two rare and fatal complications of chronic constipation in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, underscoring the serious risks associated with this often benign condition. In the first case, a 17-year-old male with cerebral palsy and autism died from pulmonary thromboembolism caused by pelvic vein compression from an acquired megacolon with a 4.6 kg (10.1 lb) fecal mass. In the second, a 17-year-old male with intellectual disability and other health challenges succumbed to abdominal compartment syndrome during medical air transport, linked to a megacolon and megarectum containing a 6.5 kg (14.3 lb) fecal mass. These cases emphasize the need for heightened awareness among medical professionals of potential life-threatening outcomes, including thromboembolism and abdominal compartment syndrome, when evaluating vulnerable individuals with chronic constipation.
