Coca-Cola Dissolves Massive Fecaloma in Elderly Woman

An 82-year-old woman was hospitalized for two days of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. A CT scan revealed a fecaloma - a mass of hardened stool - measuring 12.2 by 10.5 centimeters lodged in her sigmoid colon and rectum. Despite 12 days of conventional treatment, the mass remained unchanged.

Her care team tried polyethylene glycol, senna, mineral oil, and a sodium phosphate enema, but to no avail. It wasn't until two one-liter enemas of Classic Coca-Cola were administered that the fecaloma began to dissolve. The first enema showed a 50% reduction in size, while the second caused complete resolution of symptoms.

The treatment worked by breaking down the stool with a combination of mucolytic action, carbonic acid, and carbon dioxide bubbles. This approach has been used for years to dissolve stomach bezoars, but its effectiveness for fecalomas is less well-documented.

While the case report's authors are enthusiastic about the results, they caution that further studies are needed to define safety and effectiveness before the approach can be recommended for wide use. They also emphasize that enemas given without medical supervision can perforate the bowel, making this treatment best suited for hospital settings.