Treating constipation in palliative care: the impact of other factors aside from opioids.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care
; 29(2): 122-5, 2012 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21606123
ABSTRACT
Opioids are major contributing factors to the problem of constipation in palliative care. Whilst this is without doubt, it remains unclear how much other factors also contribute to the problem. The aim of this audit is to review what other contributing factors are present when methylnaltrexone, the peripheral opioid antagonist is prescribed for constipation. The medical records of people prescribed methylnaltrexone over a four-month period were reviewed to examine certain characteristics of people including the whether the reason for constipation was charted, whether other factors that could contribute to constipation were considered and the effectiveness of methylnaltrexone. Over the study period, 10 people received methylnaltrexone, only 4 of whom had a bowel action less than 24 hours after administration with 3 not having any bowel actions reported 6 days after administration. Whilst all were receiving opioids, the opioids doses were in the moderate range (61-200 mg morphine equivalent). However, all had other factors that could contribute to constipation including impaired functional status and medications with anti-cholinergic effects (mean anti-cholinergic load 4.5). In conclusion, methylnaltrexone is targeted treatment for the management of opioid-induced constipation. However, there is a percentage of people who fail to respond. The impact of other factors on the problem of constipation requires greater clarification.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Cuidados_paliativos
/
Geral
/
Tipos_de_cancer
/
Outros_tipos
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cuidados Paliativos
/
Constipação Intestinal
/
Analgésicos Opioides
/
Naltrexona
/
Neoplasias
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Hosp Palliat Care
Assunto da revista:
ENFERMAGEM
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália