Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CONSTIPATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,225 records · Page 68Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Constipation: an approach to diagnosis, treatment, referral.

When a patient reports constipation, a careful history and physical examination may identify the underlying cause. In many patients, though, no underlying cause is identified. Empiric treatment with exercise, hydration, fiber supplementation, and mild laxatives is often effective. If constipation does not resolve with these measures, then the physician may refer the patient for further testing for slow colonic transit, pelvic floor dysfunction, or anatomical defects, and in difficult and recalcitrant cases for surgical treatment.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMed2006

Constipation in the population over 50 years of age in Albacete province.

OBJECTIVE: To Determine the incidence of constipation in Albacete province and its relation with diet and lifestyle. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional population survey. We studied 414 participants over 50 years of age in Albacete province. 445 persons over 50 years of age were included in the study. All participants were selected by systematic random sampling; 414 participants filled in the questionnaire correctly. MAIN MEASURES: age, weight and height, marital status, level of education and occupation; presence of a disease, number of sleep hours a day, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, drug intake (anti-inflammatories and laxatives); bowel habit, diet, meal frequency and place; food intake frequency per week, daily intake of water, coffee, tea and herbal beverages; vitamin and fiber supplements; presence of cancer in the family. RESULTS: 56.9% of participants were women. Mean age 67.07 years. In Albacete province, 4.4% of the population over 50 years have a bowel habit consistent with constipation. Most participants had three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and supper), while 50% had another meal in the morning or afternoon. These meals took place, habitually, in the domicile. There was a preponderance in daily intake of the following foods: milk (83.7%), bread (95.1%), vegetables (68.8%), fruit (91.8%), and virgin olive oil (96.6%). Fish was eaten every one to two days, and pulses and meat every three to six days. 44.4% of participants drank one to two liters of water a day. Only 3.9% of participants took some supplement; 35% of participants were on a diet. It was observed that 97.7% of participants with more than three defecations a week had a high intake of virgin olive oil; 65.7% of participants did some physical exercise customarily; 70.2% of participants were non-smokers, 10.2% were smokers, and 18.4% were ex-smokers. With regard to alcohol, the percentage of drinkers was 35.1%. The main class of medications taken by participants was NSAIDs - 14.5%; 79.7% took neither NSAIDs nor laxatives. Only 2.7% of participants took laxatives regularly. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants had relatively healthy eating habits.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Lactulose in vincristine-induced constipation.

Constipation which is resistant to the usual range of laxatives is a troublesome undesirable effect of vincristine. Lactulose in doses up to 25 ml thrice daily proved to be a simple and effective treatment in six patients with refractory vincristine-induced constipation, and a successful prophylactic in two other patients. Palatable, and without any serious undesirable effects, lactulose can improve the quality of life for patients with a malignant tumour which is responsive to vincristine.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Constipation: identifying the problem.

Constipation is a common problem in older age and a costly one, both in terms of treatment and distress caused to patients. This article describes the causes of constipation and outlines various strategies nurses can employ to identify and assess it.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of constipation through risk management.

Constipation is a common problem for patients in community and hospital settings. It can have significant personal costs for individuals, including discomfort, pain, reduced quality of life and other serious physical complications. The author explores the prevention of constipation using a risk assessment approach.

Constipation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment and treatment of older patients with constipation.

This article examines the experiences of an older patient with constipation to illustrate the importance of thorough assessment. The interaction between another medical condition and constipation is discussed, and indications for laxative use are outlined. The current evidence base for bowel care is limited. Tools for risk assessment are required and further research is needed to improve patient care in this area.

Aged, 80 and over↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Constipation.

Constipation is a common problem in day-to-day practice. As there are wide variations in normal bowel habits, there is no standard definition. Altered colonic transit and disorders of the anorectal mechanism are the essential abnormalities in patients who experience this symptom. While there are several organic causes, functional disorders are by far the commonest cause of constipation. Clinical assessment should include a careful history, eliciting information on lifestyle, diet and personality. Extensive investigations are seldom warranted. Reassurance and long term treatment with a wide range of laxatives provide symptomatic relief.

Constipation↗
PubMed1999

[Open surgical therapy of constipation].

This paper reviews diagnostic criteria, indications, and selection criteria for surgical therapy in chronic constipation. Special emphasis is laid on surgical therapy of pelvic outlet obstruction. Colonic resection may be considered as last surgical resort in those few cases where conventional therapeutic measures have been exhausted and an extensive diagnostic protocol based on clearly defined criteria has been followed. This may offer a justifiable therapeutic alternative only in cases where highly symptomatic and refractory colonic inertia (slow transit constipation) is confirmed, and associated outlet obstruction has been excluded.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1999

Mechanisms of action of low doses of polyethylene glycol in the treatment of functional constipation.

Different doses of polyethylene glycol have different effects on intestinal function. In normal volunteers, low doses increase stool weight without modifying oro-anal transit time. In constipated patients, low doses decrease stool consistency, increase stool frequency, and facilitate stool evacuation without modifying stool weight and colonic transit time. Low doses of polyethylene glycol may be efficient in the treatment of functional constipation by effecting dilution water in the faeces and, thus, reducing stool consistency.

Cathartics↗
PubMed1999

Use of low dose polyethylene glycol solutions in the treatment of functional constipation.

A brief review is made of trials which used low doses of polyethylene glycol (13-30 g/day) solutions (125-500 ml/day) in the treatment of chronic functional constipation. Most of these were short-term studies, and confirmed that polyethylene glycol solution increased bowel frequency, improved defaecation and decreased stool consistency. Three studies reported that polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution accelerated transit through the large bowel. One long-term study observed remission of constipation-related symptoms in more than 70% of the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution treated patients, and the efficacy of the treatment was maintained over a 6-month period, despite progressive reduction of daily dosage.

Cathartics↗
PubMed1999

Polyethylene glycol solution in subgroups of chronic constipation patients: experience in obstructed defaecation.

Low doses of polyethylene glycol solutions were administered in patients with long-standing constipation and in a subgroup with severe symptoms of obstructed defaecation and in whom anorectal surgery was considered. During treatment all patients with constipation improved and nineteen of the twenty-one patients with dyschezia became asymptomatic. Only two patients were submitted to surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Use of polyethylene glycol solution in functional and organic constipation in children.

A brief review is made of the use of high dose polyethylene glycol solution in the treatment of functional constipation and encopresis in children. Experience with low dose polyethylene glycol for the treatment of neurogenic constipation in children with severe brain damage is also reported. Treatment with polyethylene glycol caused a significant increase in bowel frequency and a decrease in gastrointestinal transit time. Side-effects, consisting of nausea, vomiting and irritability, have limited the use of this treatment in a few children.

Cathartics↗
PubMed1975

The constipating effect of diphenoxylate (Retardinr) in ulcerative colitis. A double-blind controlled trial.

A double-blind study of 20 patients with ulcerative colitis during treatment with diphenoxylate 5 mg three times daily and placebo is reported. There were two treatment periods of 14 days each, with cross-over technique and randomized sequence. Test variable for constipating effect was the mean number of defaecations per day. The criterion for inclusion of patients was the presence of 4 or more daily bowel movements; 2 patients did not complete the investigation. Significant difference (p less than 0.01) in constipating effect between diphenoxylase and placebo was demonstrated both during a period of 12 days and a period of 6 days (Tables II and III). The average number of bowel movements were reduced by 0.7 and 1.3 per day respectively. Side-effects during treatment with diphenoxylate were seen in 53% (Table III) with significant difference against placebo (p less than 0.05). On the basis of the small absolute reduction of defaecation frequency side-effects, it is concluded that diphenoxylate has no place in the routine treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

New polyethylene glycol laxative for treatment of constipation in adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a new polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxative (MiraLax, Braintree Laboratories Inc, Braintree, Mass) in 23 patients reporting a history of constipation. METHODS: After a 7-day placebo control period, patients were randomized into a double crossover trial of placebo versus 17 g of PEG daily for 4 days. Patient maintained a stool diary. RESULTS: Daily ingestion of a 17 g dose of PEG increased mean daily bowel movement frequency to once per day by the last 7 days of the 14-day treatment period. This was a statistically significant improvement over placebo, which provided about 1 bowel movement every 2 days during the last week of therapy. Patient diary ratings of related subjective symptoms were improved with PEG treatment over placebo. Both investigator and patients rated PEG therapy superior to placebo. No clinically significant changes in blood chemistry, complete blood count (CBC), or urinalysis were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Daily therapy with 17 g of PEG laxative for 14 days resulted in a significant improvement in bowel movement frequency in constipated patients relative to placebo by the second week of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Pediatric Bowel Management Clinic in children with severe chronic constipation. Personal experience.

The multifactorial nature of functional constipation in children suggests that a multidisciplinary management approach may be effective and leads to both patients and parents' satisfaction and significant short term improvement. The authors describe their experience with the study and treatment of children with severe chronic constipation in a newly-created Pediatric Bowel Management Clinic (BMC). Further studies will examine the long-term impact of the clinic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Effect of reinforcing qi and moistening intestine oral liquid on anorectal manometry of asthenia type constipation patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of anorectal manometry in asthenia type constipation patients and effect of reinforcing Qi and moistening intestine oral liquid (RQMI) on it. METHODS: The fotal of 135 cases were divided into healthy group, RQMI treated group, Maren pill (MRP) treated group and prepulside (PPS) treated group, their anal maximal voluntary squeeze pressure, rectoanal contraction reflex, rectoanal inhibitory reflex, defecation reflex, rectal volume sensory threshold and rectal maximal tolerable volume were observed. RESULTS: The rectal sensory function of patients weakened obviously and anal sphincter reactivity reduced as compared with those of healthy person (P < 0.01), and both were improved by RQMI treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RQMI is superior to MRP and prepulside in improving anorectal dynamic abnormality in constipation patient of asthenia type.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Slow transit constipation treated by surgery: analysis of 17 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the operative indications, prognosis, and possible pathogenic factors of slow transit constipation (STC). METHODS: 17 cases with STC who had undergone colectomy were analysed. RESULTS: Bowel movement frequency was once per 4 to 14 days in all of the patients, who had had long-term laxative abuse. Delayed colonic transit was demonstrated in all patients, 82.4% of them were accompanied by outlet obstructive constipation (OOC) and 50% showed abnormal sex hormones. Reduced numbers of argyrophilic neurons and vacuolar degeneration of axons were demonstrated at the myenteric plexus pathologically. Three patients had adhesive ileus postoperatively and one patient suffered from difficult evacuation again 5 years after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Colectomy is highly effective in alleviating symptoms in patients with STC, and pelvic floor disorder of OOC should be treated simultaneously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Case study to evaluate a standing table for managing constipation.

Standing devices have been advocated as a potentially beneficial treatment for constipation in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, definitive data are lacking. A case of a patient who requested a standing table to treat chronic constipation is presented as an illustration of a method to address this problem on an individual patient level. The patient was a 62-year-old male with T12-L1 ASIA B paraplegia who was injured in 1965. The patient was on chronic narcotics for severe, nonoperable shoulder pain. His bowel program had been inadequate to prevent impactions. A systematic approach was used to measure the effects of a standing table on frequency of bowel movements (BMs) and on length of bowel care episodes. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in frequency of BMs and a decrease in bowel care time with the use of the standing table 5 times/week versus baseline. For this patient, the use of the standing table was a clinically useful addition to his bowel care program.

Constipation↗