Goals Of Work: Constipation is a significant problem in patients taking morphine for cancer pain. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the magnitude of constipation in this study cohort, (2) to analyse the constipation treatment strategies and (3) to look for evidence of inter-individual variation in both susceptibility to constipation and response to treatment with laxatives in this patient group.
Materials And Methods: This was an observational study carried out in a tertiary referral cancer hospital. Two hundred seventy four patients were recruited to the study. All had a diagnosis of cancer and were on oral morphine for cancer pain. The main outcomes measured were subjective patient assessment of constipation severity in the preceding week and laxative use. Patients were asked to grade constipation in the preceding week on a four-point categorical scale: "not at all" (grade 0), "a little" (grade 1), "quite a bit" (grade 2) and "very much" (grade 3). Laxative dose groups (LDGs) were developed to assess laxative dosing.
Results: Constipation affects 72% of this cohort of patients. Constipation in this population is poorly managed. Eighty nine percent of constipated patients were on inadequate laxative therapy. Inter-individual variation in constipation on morphine exists: some patients do not experience constipation and do not need to take any laxatives, some patients do not experience constipation because they are taking laxatives and some patients experience constipation despite being on high dose laxatives. These three groups were compared in terms of cancer diagnosis, time on morphine, dose of morphine and other concomitant factors. No factor was identified to account for this inter-individual variation. Improvement in the clinical management of constipation is needed, with titration of laxatives according to individual patient need.
Conclusion: Constipation affects a large proportion of cancer patients taking oral morphine. Constipation in these patients is generally inadequately treated.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0373-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Ascaris lumbricoides a rare cause gastric perforation: a case report and brief literature review.
Front Med (Lausanne)
January 2025
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.
(AL), a prevalent nematode causing ascariasis, infects millions worldwide, with a higher risk in preschool and school-aged children. Though infections are usually mild, rare and life-threatening complications like gastrointestinal perforation exist. This article documents a case involving a 61-year-old deaf-mute man who presented with a month-long history of epigastric pain accompanied by nausea, anorexia, and constipation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe metabolic pathway of Deg-AZM and investigations into the contribution of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters in the drug interactions of Deg-AZM, a clinical-stage new transgelin agonist.
Front Pharmacol
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
Introduction: Deglycosylated azithromycin (Deg-AZM), a new transgelin agonist with positive therapeutic effects on slow transit constipation, has been approved for clinical trials in 2024. This work investigated the drug metabolism and transport of Deg-AZM to provide research data for further development of Deg-AZM.
Methods: A combination of UPLC-QTOF-MS was used to obtain metabolite spectra of Deg-AZM in plasma, urine, feces and bile.
Predictors of complicated appendicitis among patients presented to public referral hospitals in Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study.
Surg Pract Sci
June 2022
Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Background: Complicated appendicitis makes up a significant proportion of acute appendicitis. There are well established associated factors for the development of complications, but the magnitude varies between developed and developing countries. This study was aimed to look for possible incriminated factors for higher rate of complicated appendicitis among patients treated in public hospitals found in the Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy on the effects of Massa Medicata Fermentata with different formulations on the intestinal microbiota and enzyme activities in mice with spleen deficiency constipation.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol
January 2025
Scientific Research Department, Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Objective: This study aims to explore the therapeutic mechanism of Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) with different formulations on spleen deficiency constipation in mice by analyzing gastrointestinal hormones, D-xylose, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal enzyme activities.
Methods: A spleen deficiency constipation model was established using an oral administration of Sennae Folium decoction combined with controlled diet and water intake. After successful model establishment, the mice with spleen deficiency constipation were treated with MMF S1, S2, S3.
Frequency and Distribution of Parasites Detected in Children Between 2017-2022 (6-year Period).
Turkiye Parazitol Derg
January 2025
Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hastalıkları ve Cerrahisi Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi, Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvarı, İzmir, Türkiye.
Objective: In the study, various complaints such as gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, night urination, itching around the anus, malnutrition, malabsorption, anemia, intelligence and developmental delay were reported to University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Dr. Behçet Uz Pediatric Diseases and Surgery Training and Researhc Hospital, Microbiology Laboratory between 2017 and 2022. It was aimed to determine the frequency and distribution of intestinal parasites in patients presenting with clinical symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!