During a digital examination of the rectum, the nurse notices that the patient has hard feces in the rectum. The patient complains of feeling "full," has a distended abdomen, and states that she has not had a bowel movement "for several days." The nurse suspects which condition?

A) Rectal polyp
B) Rectal abscess
C) Fecal impaction
D) Fecal incontinence

A fecal impaction is a collection of hard, desiccated feces in the rectum. The obstruction often results from decreased bowel motility, in which more water is reabsorbed from the stool. Rectal polyps are protruding growths from the rectal mucous membrane. They are usually asymptomatic and are fairly common. A rectal abscess starts from an infected anorectal gland and the infection channels through the perianal tissues to form a fistula (connection between the infected gland and the outside perineum). Symptoms include persistent pain and swelling and may drain purulent or serosanguineous matter. Fecal incontinence is the leaking of solid or liquid stool involuntarily.