Fecal Vomiting: Definition, Causes, and Medical Terminology

Feculent vomiting is the medical term for vomiting fecal matter. It occurs when intestinal obstruction (mechanical or functional) causes retrograde flow of colonic contents into the stomach. Causes: adhesive bowel obstruction, volvulus, hernia, severe constipation, Ogilvie's syndrome, malignant obstruction. It signals advanced, potentially life-threatening pathology requiring urgent surgical/medical evaluation.