Tag Archives: Senna

Position Paper: Pediatric Refractory Constipation Management

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AL Kilgore et al. JPGN 2024; https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.12390. Open Access! Evaluation and management of pediatric refractory constipation: Recommendations from the NASPGHAN neurogastroenterology and motility committee

Selected Recommendations:

Evaluations:

  • Screen for thyroid disease and celiac disease (though acknowledges that the data regarding an association between celiac disease and constipation are inconsistent)
  • The use of an AXR in RC should be reserved for those patients unable to provide a reliable medical history and/or unable to allow for a physical exam (including a DRE), or to evaluate for mechanical obstruction or colonic distention when considering surgical interventions
  • A contrast enema (CE) can be used to screen for HD or to assess colorectal anatomy
  • There is no evidence to recommend the routine use of defecography in children
  • Abdominal ultrasound has a good agreement with digital rectal exam (DRE) to evaluate for fecal impaction but should not be performed in place of DRE
  • ARM should be used to screen for the presence of a RAIR. If anal spasms and prolonged sphincter relaxation are detected during ARM, an assessment for spinal abnormalities can be considered
  • An LS MRI should be performed in pediatric patients with RC associated with physical or neurological signs of spinal anomalies, signs of neurogenic bladder on urodynamics, or when the anorectal manometry (ARM) is abnormal suggesting spinal cord abnormalities
  • Colonic transit time (CTT) via radiopaque markers should be completed for patients with RC with equivocal medical history and to screen for the need to perform colonic manometry (CM)
  • Colonic manometry (CM) should be performed only after medical therapy has been exhausted and surgical therapy is being considered. CM should be used to guide the timing and type of surgery to address RC. CM should be used to guide when to perform an ostomy takedown
  • Rectal biopsies should not be used routinely in patients with RC and are indicated exclusively in patients with a suspected diagnosis of HD

Pharmaceuticals:

  • High-dose sennoside (or Bisacodyl) is a mainstay of management of RC and should be optimized for the individual patient before considering further management options
  • A secretagogue (or prucalopride) should be considered as an adjunct to a high-dose stimulant laxative when treating RC with poor response to optimized high-dose stimulant laxatives or when high-dose stimulant laxatives are not tolerated
  • There is no clear role of anal botox in the treatment of patients with RC without a diagnosis of IAS achalasia
  • Early intervention with daily stimulant laxatives in the treatment of FC is encouraged to try to prevent the disease progression from functional constipation (FC) to RC
  • Antegrade and Retrograde Treatments:
Routine dosages of frequently used antegrade and retrograde solutions and additives
  • The last part of the recommendations include antegrade continence enemas, surgical approaches, and complicated algorithms (see Figure 1 and Figure 2)

My take: These recommendations address a widespread problem for pediatric gastroenterologists and are useful for those with and without an interest in motility disorders.

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Safety of Senna-Based Laxatives

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A recent study  (Vilanova-Sanchez A, et al. J Pediatr Surg 2018; 53: 722-7) provides reassurance regarding the safety of senna-based laxatives in kids.

The authors performed a literature review and reviewed their personal experience (2014 to 2017) of prescribing Senna in 640 patients. In this cohort, 230 (36%) had functional constipation.

Key findings:

  • Besides abdominal cramping or diarrhea during the first weeks of administration, there were no other long-term side effects from Senna found in the pediatric literature with long-term treatment
  • At their institution, 83 (13%) patients presented minor side effects such as abdominal cramping, vomiting or diarrhea, almost half (48%) of which resolved spontaneously within two weeks.
  • “We did not see any side effects in 540 (84.3%) patients.”  The median length of treatment was 338 days and median dose was 17.5 mg.  “430 (80%) of them are currently taking Senna.”
  • 17 patients (2.2%) developed blisters during their treatment. Patients who developed blisters had higher doses 60 mg/day; 60 [12–100] vs. 17.5 [1.7–150] (p < 0.001). All of the blistering episodes were related to night-time accidents, with a long period of stool to skin contact.

In their discussion, the authors note that senna and other anthranoid glycosides are not absorbed in the small intestine.  They are maintained as prodrugs until they reach the large intestine where they are metabolized to the active form. In addition, “despite an extensive search of both the medical and lay literature we did not find any reference to long term tolerance due to treatment which we find is a frequently mentioned concern by families and clinicians”

The authors comments on the study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital website:

  • “The safety profile of senna is as good as or better than many common medications a person would be on, including over-the-counter medications routinely given to very young children, and tolerance does not appear to be a concern,” says Dr. Levitt, who is also a professor of Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “We hope this paper will make physicians more comfortable in using senna-based laxatives, and that they will be more widely used.”
  • Senna is often more effective than polyethylene glycol. This study shows that it is safe as well.  “A physician should consider senna as the first line medication,” says Dr. Levitt.

My take: Many patients who come to pediatric gastroenterologists have not responded to polyethylene glycol.  Senna has been effective in many of these patients as part of a bowel regimen which usually includes behavior modification and diet.

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