Authors
  • Liz Reymond1,
  • Fiona Israel2,
  • Margaret Charles3
Organisations
  • University of Sydney1,
  • Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative2,
  • Queensland Health3
Year

2005

Excerpt

Constipation in palliative patients:
 • Consistently rated as one of the 10 most prevalent symptoms that have a negative
   impact on quality of life
 • Between 40-90% of patients become constipated at some stage of illness
 • Audit at Ipswich hospice – constipation most prevalent symptom requiring treatment
 • No evidence base- constipation managed in an ad hoc way using anecdotal evidence

New aperient on the block
 • Macrogol 3350 & electrolytes (Movicol) indicated for constipation and faecal impaction
 • Iso-osmotic agent that is not absorbed or metabolised by the GIT
 • Anecdotally – reduces the need for per rectum interventions
 • No RCT investigating Movicol in palliative population

Aim of our study:
 • To compare two aperient regimens (Coloxyl & Senna vs Movicol) for the prophylaxis
   of constipation in palliative patients requiring opioid analgesia.