[Effect of combined drug treatment on megacolon with severe constipation].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effectiveness of combined drug treatment on megacolon complicated by severe constipation.

METHODS:

Ten patients with megacolon confirmed by barium enema examination, 4 males and 6 females, aged 38 (15 - 66), with a mean course of 10 years (2 weeks - 23 years), all complicated by severe constipation and 5 cases with colonic obstruction confirmed by X-ray examination, 1 being diagnosed as with Hirschsprung' disease, 3 secondary to chronic constipation, 1 with diabetes mellitus, 1 with a history of anorectal malformation, 4 with colonic pseudo-obstruction, and 4 with colonic pseudo-obstruction, were treated with combined conservative therapy including tegaserod (6 mg 2/d), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 (20 - 40 g/d), and liuweianxiao (traditional Chinese medicine, 5 # 3/d). Colon enema was used in the first week if necessary. Follow-up was conducted for 1 - 7 months. The major clinical data included bowel symptoms, complications and adverse effects.

RESULTS:

After 1 - 2 weeks of treatment, properties of feces, defecation times, defecation difficulty, and abdominal symptoms, and X-ray findings were all notably improved. No relapse of colonic obstruction was found. The 5 patients with colonic obstruction all showed release. Regarding adverse effect, mild diarrhea was found in 2 cases and was relieved when the dosage was decreased.

CONCLUSION:

Combined drug treatment including tegaserod, PEG 4000 and traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating megacolon with severe constipation and may help avoid surgical treatment.

• Authors: Zhao-Lu Ding, Mei-Yun Ke, Xiao-Hong Sun, Zhi-Feng Wang
• Journal: Zhonghua yi xue za zhi (Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi) Vol. 87 Issue 10 Pg. 670-2 (Mar 13 2007) ISSN: 0376-2491 [Print] China
• PMID: 17553303 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Indoles
• Polyethylene Glycols
• tegaserod

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Constipation (drug therapy, etiology)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Indoles (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Megacolon (complications, drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome