[Recommendations on therapy for chronic constipation--working group for functional diagnosis and psychosomatics of the austrian society of gastroenterology and hepatology].

Abstract

Constipation is one of the most frequent gastroenterological problems, especially among elderly people. Chronic constipation is now defined by the new Rome III criteria. Life style counselling is usually only effective in early stages of disease and for mild types. In patients with constipation one should actively screen for possible causative, medically adverse events. Recently new effective opioid antagonists were introduced to act against constipation in patients on long-term opioid therapy. If these actions fail, medical therapy with polyethylene glycol or lactulose should be favoured in the long-term treatment. Psychodiagnostic queries concerning fear should be included in the diagnostic procedures. Biofeedback is an effective therapy in these cases and especially with pelvic floor dyssynergia. Surgical interventions are rarely indicated or successful with the exception of chronic outlet obstruction with severe anatomic changes.

• Authors: H Vogelsang, J Pfeiffer, G Moser
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie (Z Gastroenterol) Vol. 49 Issue 2 Pg. 294-303 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1439-7803 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Empfehlungen zur Therapie der chronischen Obstipation der Arbeitsgruppe für Funktionsdiagnostik und Psychosomatik der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie.
• PMID: 21298610 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Chemical References

• Gastrointestinal Agents

Topics

• Austria
• Biofeedback, Psychology (methods)
• Chronic Disease
• Constipation (diagnosis, psychology, therapy)
• Gastroenterology (standards)
• Gastrointestinal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Practice Guidelines as Topic