Tolerance and Efficacy of Polyethylene Glycol 4000 in Elderly Patients with Chronic Constipation: A Retrospective, Single-center, Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective, observational study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of polyethylene glycol 4000 plus electrolytes (PEG 4000) in elderly patients with chronic constipation. METHODS: PEG 4000 powder was orally administered once daily at a dose of one or two 6.9 g sachets as the initial dose. The outcome measures were changes in the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score (CCCS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) value before and 2 weeks after drug administration. RESULTS: This study included 324 patients aged ≥65 years (mean age: 78.6 ± 7.6 years, range: 65-100 years) with chronic constipation. The total CCCS was noted to significantly improve from 11.5 ± 4.6 at baseline to 7.4 ± 5.2 after drug administration. All CCCS sub-scores also improved significantly. The average BSFS value at baseline (2.5 ± 1.6) significantly improved to 4.3 ± 1.1 after treatment. Side effects (16 events) were observed in 13 patients (4.0%), with the most common being diarrhea (6 patients, 1.9%). All events were mild in severity, with none of the symptoms being serious. The cumulative treatment continuation rate at 1 year was 83.1%. CONCLUSIONS: PEG 4000 treatment was safe, effective, and well tolerated in elderly patients with chronic constipation. Thus, it appears to be a promising drug that can be continued for a long time.

Distal hemorrhoidectomy with ALTA injection: a new method for hemorrhoid surgery.

Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid injection (ALTA) is a useful and less-invasive treatment for internal hemorrhoids. However, it is not a treatment option for external hemorrhoidal diseases, including mixed hemorrhoids. Distal hemorrhoidectomy with ALTA injection involves surgical resection of external piles, followed by injection therapy on internal piles. We report technical details and the short-term results of this procedure in patients with mixed hemorrhoids. Seventy-two patients with mixed hemorrhoids treated between 2010 and 2011 were included. The main outcome measures were the short-term response and complication rates. At 28 days after surgery, the disappearance rate of prolapse was 100%. Three patients (4%) had postoperative complications, all minor in nature. No prolapse recurrence was observed within a median follow-up period of 6 months. Distal hemorrhoidectomy with ALTA injection appears to be a promising treatment option for patients with mixed hemorrhoids.

Efficacy of cholangiography under helical computed tomography for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is known to be safe, the optimal imaging technique for examining the common bile duct and cystic duct prior to laparoscopic intervention remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cholangiography under helical computed tomography (helical CT cholangiography) for LC. METHODS: We studied 53 consecutive patients who underwent LC carried out by the same surgeon. The data of 23 of these patients who had undergone LC before the introduction of helical CT were used as the reference standard. Among the 53 patients, 28 were prospectively randomized for preoperative biliary tract evaluation with versus without helical CT cholangiography, into a CT/+ group (n = 13) and a CT/- group (n = 15), respectively. Two patients were excluded from the study preoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age or laboratory findings, including liver function tests or the serum amylase level before or after surgery, between the two groups. In the CT/- group, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography-related pancreatitis developed in one patient, and one patient required conversion to open surgery. In contrast, in the CT/+ group, there were no preoperative complications and no patient required conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was significantly shorter in the CT/+ group than in the CT/- group (P = 0.0137). CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence to support the advantages of helical CT cholangiography in relation to operative time, conversion, and procedure-related preoperative complications.