Tag Archives: fecal impaction

“Waste” of a CT Scan

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M Alsayid, V Kotwal. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.06.030. Open Access: Chronic Constipation With Fecal Stasis

A 50 year old with a history of abdominal distention for a week and chronic constipation had a CT with intravenous contrast. Ultimately he had a disimpaction under general anesthesia and a flexible sigmoidoscopy.

My view: A complete examination with digital rectal exam (if feasible) or an AXR would have been sufficient for diagnosis.

Blog note: Link for We Can’t Wait App updated in yesterday’s post.

#NASPGHAN17 Selected Abstracts

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Some of the abstracts that were presented at this year’s meeting –see below.  For a listing of the titles/authors presented, use this link: NASPGHAN Annual Mtg 2017

For complete abstracts: NASPGHAN 2017 Scientific Abstracts

Using a standardized approach along with a protocol for oral cleanouts and saline enemas if needed, the authors showed a marked decline in admissions for fecal impaction:

In this study, the authors found that low risk patients had a 91% likelihood of a negative scope.  However, on closer inspection, this rate OVERESTIMATES the likelihood of finding anything significant.  Most findings in the low risk group had questionable benefit from being identified on endoscopy including “acute colitis,” and H pylori.

The following abstract showed that in patients with EoE and not PPI-REE that topical steroids alone were as effective as PPI with topical steroids.

The following slides indicate the development of A4250, a bile acid transporter, which reduces pruritus. The presenter stated that this drug essentially is a chemical diversion which could replace biliary diversion for pruritic conditions like PFIC and Alagille syndrome.

Data Supporting Miralax

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A summary of the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol for chronic constipation, fecal disimpaction, and as a bowel preparation are presented in a recent article (JPGN 2013; 57: 134-40).

The article provides information on the biochemistry and mechanism of action along with a good number of references –49.

From the summary:

“PEG is an osmotic laxative used in children in the last few years.  It is more effective than lactulose for the treatment of chronic constipation.  It is equally effective compared with milk of magnesia and mineral oil for the long-term treatment of constipation but has a much better acceptance rate…It is a safe medication without any significant adverse effects.  Because PEG can be mixed in a beverage of the patient’s choice, it has excellent long-term patient acceptance.”

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