Comparison of Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution vs Polyethylene Glycol-3350 for the Treatment of Fecal Impaction in Pediatric Patients

An Update of Pharmacological Management in Children with Functional Constipation

Functional constipation is a common problem in childhood worldwide and has a great impact on social, physical, and emotional functioning of affected children and their caregivers. It is a clinical diagnosis based on the Rome IV criteria. Non-pharmacological treatment involves education, demystification, lifestyle advice, and toilet training. Pharmacological treatment consists of disimpaction, maintenance treatment, and eventually weaning if possible. Polyethylene glycol is considered as the first choice of laxative for both disimpaction and maintenance treatment. Different osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, lubricants, and enemas are available as alternative pharmacological treatment options. Novel drugs are emerging but evidence to support the widespread application of these drugs in the pediatric population is often lacking and more high-quality research is needed in this field. If children remain symptomatic despite optimal pharmacological treatment, botulinum toxin injections in the anal sphincter can be considered as an alternative, more invasive treatment option. This review provides an update on currently available literature concerning the pharmacologic treatment of functional constipation in children.

Efficacy and Safety of Combined Oral and Enema Therapy Using Polyethylene Glycol 3350-Electrolyte for Disimpaction in Pediatric Constipation

PURPOSE

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined oral and enema therapy using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 with electrolyte solution for disimpaction in hospitalized children.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 28 children having functional constipation who received inpatient treatment between 2008 and 2016. The amount of oral PEG 3350 electrolyte solution administered was 50-70 mL/kg/d (PEG 3350, 3-4.1 g/kg/d), and an enema solution was administered 1-2 times a day as a single dose of 15-25 mL/kg (PEG 3350, 0.975-1.625 g/kg/d). A colon transit time (CTT) test based on the Metcalf protocol was performed in some patients.

RESULTS

Administration of oral and enema doses of PEG 3350 electrolyte solution showed 2.1±0.3 times and 2.9±0.4 times, respectively. After disimpaction, the frequency of defecation increased from 2.2±0.3 per week to once a day (1.1±0.1 per day). The number of patients who complained of abdominal pain was reduced from 15 (53.6%) to 4 (14.3%). Before hospitalization, nine patients underwent a CTT test, and 5 of 9 patients (55.6%) were classified as belonging to a group showing abnormalities. And in some patients, mild adverse effects were noted. We examined electrolytes and osmolality before and after disimpaction in 16 of 28 patients, and no abnormalities were noted.

CONCLUSION

In terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety, combined oral and enema therapy using high-dose PEG 3350 with electrolytes is considered superior to conventional oral monotherapy or combined oral and enema therapy on an outpatient basis.

Use of polyethylene glycol in functional constipation and fecal impaction

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate in an analytical and descriptive manner the evidence published so far on the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), with or without electrolytes, in the management of functional constipation and the treatment of fecal impaction.

METHODOLOGY

Search on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases until May 2016 of all publications adjusted to the following terms: constipation AND/OR fecal impaction AND (PEG OR polyethylene glycol OR macrogol OR movicol OR idralax OR miralax OR transipeg OR forlax OR golytely OR isocolan OR mulytely) NOT colonoscopy. Critical reading of selected articles (English or Spanish), sorting their description according to group age (adult/pediatric age) and within those, in accordance with study features (efficacy evaluation versus placebo, doses query, safety, comparison with other laxatives, observational studies and monographic review articles of polyethylene glycol or meta-analysis).

RESULTS

Fifty-eight publications have been chosen for descriptive analysis; of them, 41 are clinical trials, eight are observational studies and nine are systematic reviews or meta-analysis. Twelve clinical trials evaluate PEG efficacy versus placebo, eight versus lactulose, six are dose studies, five compare polyethylene glycol with and without electrolytes, two compare its efficacy with respect to milk of magnesia, and the rest of the trials evaluate polyethylene glycol with enemas (two), psyllium (one), tegaserod (one), prucalopride (one), paraffin oil (one), fiber combinations (one) and Descurainia sophia (one).

CONCLUSIONS

Polyethylene glycol with or without electrolytes is more efficacious than placebo for the treatment of functional constipation, either in adults or in pediatric patients, with great safety and tolerability. These preparations constitute the most efficacious osmotic laxatives (more than lactulose) and are the first-line treatment for functional constipation in the short and long-term. They are as efficacious as enemas in fecal impaction, avoid the need for hospital admission and are well tolerated by patients (mainly when administered without electrolytes).