Constipation: Difference between revisions

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''This page is for '''adult''' patients; for pediatric patients see [[Special:MyLanguage/constipation (peds)|constipation (peds)]].''
==Background==
==Background==
*Acute constipation is intestinal obstruction until proven otherwise
*Red flags:
**Weight loss
**Rectal bleeding/melena
**N/V
**Fever
**Rectal pain
**Change in stool caliber
==DDX==
===Acute===
#Obstruction
##Tumor, stricture, hernia, adhesion, volvulus, fecal impaction
#New medicine
##Opiods, antipsychotic, anticholinergic, antacid, antihistamine
#Change in exercise
#Change in diet
#Pain rectal conditions (e.g. anal fissure, hemorrhoids)
===Chronic===
#Acute causes
#Hypothyroidism
#Electrolytes
##Hypomagnesia
##Hypercalcemia
#Hypokalemia


==Work-Up==
[[File:Diameters of the large intestine.png|thumb|Normal inner diameters of colon sections.]]
#Rectal exam
[[File:Rectum anatomy en.png|thumb|Anatomy of the anus and rectum.]]
#Guaiac
*Acute constipation is intestinal obstruction until proven otherwise
#Chemistry (hypoK or hyperCa)
 
#Acute abd series (if suspect obstruction)
 
#TSH
===Red flags===
 
*Weight loss
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Rectal bleeding|Rectal bleeding]]/melena
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Nausea/vomiting|Nausea/vomiting]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Fever|Fever]]
*Rectal pain
*Change in stool caliber
 
 
==Clinical Features==
 
[[File:BristolStoolChart.png|thumb|Bristol Stool Chart.]]
*Decreased frequency of bowel movements
*Hard, dry, and/or difficult to pass stool
 
 
==Differential Diagnosis==
 
</translate>
{{Constipation DDX}}
<translate>
</translate>
{{Anorectal DDX}}
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</translate>
{{DDX abdominal distention}}
<translate>
 
 
==Evaluation==
 
 
===Work up===
 
*Digital rectal exam
*Abdominal panel
**CBC
**Chemistry ([[Special:MyLanguage/hypokalemia|hypokalemia]] or [[Special:MyLanguage/hypercalcemia|hypercalcemia]])  
**LFTs + lipase
**Consider coagulation studies (PT, PTT, INR), as a marker of liver function
*Consider [[Special:MyLanguage/TSH|TSH]] if concern for [[Special:MyLanguage/hypothyroid|hypothyroid]] related [[Special:MyLanguage/constipation|constipation]]
*Consider [[Special:MyLanguage/lactate|lactate]] if concern for [[Special:MyLanguage/stercoral colitis|stercoral colitis]]
*CT if abdominal tenderness, elderly, or severe presentation
**'''Constipation should not cause abdominal tenderness on exam'''
**CT may show stool burden in colon/rectum
 
 
===Diagnosis===
 
*Diagnosis is frequently clinical
*In patients with concerning symptoms/risk factors, CT can confirm diagnosis and rule out more emergent conditions
 
 
==Management==
 
*Adequate fluid (1.5L per day)
*Fiber (10gm per day)
**Bran: 1 cup daily
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Psyllium|Psyllium]] (Metamucil): 1-2 teaspoon TID
*Exercise
 
 
===Medication options===
 
*Emollient
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Docusate|Docusate]] (Colace): 100mg QD-BID (facilitates mixture of stool fat and water)
**Mineral oil (long term use causes malabsorption)
*Stimulants
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Bisacodyl|Bisacodyl]] (Dulcolax): 10mg PR TID
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Senna|Senna]]: Two tab PO QD-BID
*Saline laxative
**Milk of mangesia: 15-30 mL QD-BID
**Magnesium citrate: 100-240 mL QD-BID
*Hyperosmolar agents
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Lactulose|Lactulose]] 15-30 mL QD-BID
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Polyethylene glycol 3350|PEG]]: 1 gallon/4h
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Polyethylene glycol 3350|PEG]](Miralax): 17gm
**Glycerin: 1 adult suppository PR, onset of action 15-30 min, then 1-2 doses per day
*Enemas
**Soap suds, saline, tap water enema (rectal distention, causing evacuation)<ref>Portalatin M and Winstead N. Medical Management of Constipation. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012 Mar; 25(1): 12–19.</ref>
**May add 50-100 mg of docusate liquid to saline or water enema
**Fleet Phospho-soda: 118 ml single enema dose, with maximum of x2 doses at least 1 hr apart
***No more than 2 doses in a 24 hr period may be administered without serum phos, mag, calcium levels<ref>Farah R. Fatal acute sodium phosphate enemas intoxication.  Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2005 Jul-Sep;68(3):392-3.</ref>
***May observe [[Special:MyLanguage/hyperphosphatemia|hyperphosphatemia]], [[Special:MyLanguage/hypocalcemia|hypocalcemia]], [[Special:MyLanguage/hypomagnesemia|hypomagnesemia]]
***High risk patients: renal impairement, abnormal gut motility, [[Special:MyLanguage/IBD|IBD]], elderly, cardiac co-morbidities<ref>Reedy JC, Zwiren GT.  Enema-induced hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia leading to cardiac arrest during induction of anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center.  Anesthesiology. 1983 Dec;59(6):578-9.</ref><ref>Korzets A, Dicker D, Chaimoff C, Zevin D. Life-threatening hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemic tetany following the use of fleet enemas. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 Jun;40(6):620-1.</ref>
 
====Gastrografin PO====
 
*Gastrografin through NG or OG decreases bowel wall edema and increases bowel motility<ref>Assalia A, Schein M, Kopelman D, et al. Therapeutic effect of oral Gastrografin in adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction: A prospective randomized trial. Surgery 1994; 115: 433-437.</ref>
**Diagnostic and therapeutic<ref>Chen SC, Lin FY, Lee PH, et al. Water-soluble contrast study predicts the need for early surgery in adhesive small bowel obstruction. Br J Surg 1998; 85: 1692-1694.</ref>
**100 cc of gastrografin through NG tube
**Transit may be observed through serial radiographs
***Contrast within the large bowel within 24 hrs suggest partial [[Special:MyLanguage/small bowel obstruction|small bowel obstruction]]
***Contrast failing to reach large bowel within 24-48 hrs suggests complete obstruction, requiring laparotomy
**Therapeutic, may reduce necessary operative rate by ~75%<ref>Choi HK et al. Therapeutic Value of Gastrografin in Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction After Unsuccessful Conservative Treatment: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Annals of Surgery. 2002;236(1).</ref>
*Avoid barium as it becomes inspissated in bowel, causing complete obstruction<ref>Choi HK et al. Therapeutic Value of Gastrografin in Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction After Unsuccessful Conservative Treatment: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Annals of Surgery. 2002;236(1).</ref>
**If perforation occurs with barium, leakage can be lethal
**Gastrografin is water-soluble and relatively safer if perforation occurs
**Be aware that anaphylactoid reactions and serious aspirations have occurred rarely with Gastrografin, however<ref>Skucas J. Anaphylactoid reactions with gastrointestinal contrast media. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1997; 168: 962-964.</ref>
 
 
==Disposition==
 
*Normally outpatient
 
 
==See Also==
 
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Constipation (peds)|Constipation (peds)]]
 


==Treatment==
==References==
#Stress adequate fluid (1.5L per day), fiber (10gm per day), and exercise
#Meds
##Fiber
###Bran: 1 cup daily
###Psyllium (metamucil): 1 teaspoon TID
##Emollient
###Docusate (colace): 100mg QD-BID (facilitates mixture of stool fat and water)
##Stimulants
###Bisacodyl (dulcolax): 10mg PR TID
###Senna: Two tab PO QD-BID
##Saline laxative
###Milk of mangesia: 15-30 mL QD-BID
###Magnesium citrate: 100-240 mL QD-BID
##Hyperosmolar agents
###Lactulose 15-30 mL QD-BID
###Polyethylene glycol: 1 gallon/4h
###Miralax: 17gm


==Source ==
<references/>
Tintinalli


[[Category:GI]]
[[Category:GI]]
[[Category:Symptoms]]
</translate>

Latest revision as of 21:57, 4 January 2026

This page is for adult patients; for pediatric patients see constipation (peds).

Background

Normal inner diameters of colon sections.
Anatomy of the anus and rectum.
  • Acute constipation is intestinal obstruction until proven otherwise


Red flags


Clinical Features

Bristol Stool Chart.
  • Decreased frequency of bowel movements
  • Hard, dry, and/or difficult to pass stool


Differential Diagnosis

Constipation

Anorectal Disorders

Non-GI Look-a-Likes

Abdominal distention


Evaluation

Work up

  • Digital rectal exam
  • Abdominal panel
    • CBC
    • Chemistry (hypokalemia or hypercalcemia)
    • LFTs + lipase
    • Consider coagulation studies (PT, PTT, INR), as a marker of liver function
  • Consider TSH if concern for hypothyroid related constipation
  • Consider lactate if concern for stercoral colitis
  • CT if abdominal tenderness, elderly, or severe presentation
    • Constipation should not cause abdominal tenderness on exam
    • CT may show stool burden in colon/rectum


Diagnosis

  • Diagnosis is frequently clinical
  • In patients with concerning symptoms/risk factors, CT can confirm diagnosis and rule out more emergent conditions


Management

  • Adequate fluid (1.5L per day)
  • Fiber (10gm per day)
    • Bran: 1 cup daily
    • Psyllium (Metamucil): 1-2 teaspoon TID
  • Exercise


Medication options

  • Emollient
    • Docusate (Colace): 100mg QD-BID (facilitates mixture of stool fat and water)
    • Mineral oil (long term use causes malabsorption)
  • Stimulants
  • Saline laxative
    • Milk of mangesia: 15-30 mL QD-BID
    • Magnesium citrate: 100-240 mL QD-BID
  • Hyperosmolar agents
    • Lactulose 15-30 mL QD-BID
    • PEG: 1 gallon/4h
    • PEG(Miralax): 17gm
    • Glycerin: 1 adult suppository PR, onset of action 15-30 min, then 1-2 doses per day
  • Enemas
    • Soap suds, saline, tap water enema (rectal distention, causing evacuation)[1]
    • May add 50-100 mg of docusate liquid to saline or water enema
    • Fleet Phospho-soda: 118 ml single enema dose, with maximum of x2 doses at least 1 hr apart

Gastrografin PO

  • Gastrografin through NG or OG decreases bowel wall edema and increases bowel motility[5]
    • Diagnostic and therapeutic[6]
    • 100 cc of gastrografin through NG tube
    • Transit may be observed through serial radiographs
      • Contrast within the large bowel within 24 hrs suggest partial small bowel obstruction
      • Contrast failing to reach large bowel within 24-48 hrs suggests complete obstruction, requiring laparotomy
    • Therapeutic, may reduce necessary operative rate by ~75%[7]
  • Avoid barium as it becomes inspissated in bowel, causing complete obstruction[8]
    • If perforation occurs with barium, leakage can be lethal
    • Gastrografin is water-soluble and relatively safer if perforation occurs
    • Be aware that anaphylactoid reactions and serious aspirations have occurred rarely with Gastrografin, however[9]


Disposition

  • Normally outpatient


See Also


References

  1. ↑ Portalatin M and Winstead N. Medical Management of Constipation. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012 Mar; 25(1): 12–19.
  2. ↑ Farah R. Fatal acute sodium phosphate enemas intoxication. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2005 Jul-Sep;68(3):392-3.
  3. ↑ Reedy JC, Zwiren GT. Enema-induced hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia leading to cardiac arrest during induction of anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center. Anesthesiology. 1983 Dec;59(6):578-9.
  4. ↑ Korzets A, Dicker D, Chaimoff C, Zevin D. Life-threatening hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemic tetany following the use of fleet enemas. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 Jun;40(6):620-1.
  5. ↑ Assalia A, Schein M, Kopelman D, et al. Therapeutic effect of oral Gastrografin in adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction: A prospective randomized trial. Surgery 1994; 115: 433-437.
  6. ↑ Chen SC, Lin FY, Lee PH, et al. Water-soluble contrast study predicts the need for early surgery in adhesive small bowel obstruction. Br J Surg 1998; 85: 1692-1694.
  7. ↑ Choi HK et al. Therapeutic Value of Gastrografin in Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction After Unsuccessful Conservative Treatment: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Annals of Surgery. 2002;236(1).
  8. ↑ Choi HK et al. Therapeutic Value of Gastrografin in Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction After Unsuccessful Conservative Treatment: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Annals of Surgery. 2002;236(1).
  9. ↑ Skucas J. Anaphylactoid reactions with gastrointestinal contrast media. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1997; 168: 962-964.
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