Constipation

Constipation is common in advanced disease and can cause many distressing symptoms – colicky abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, anxiety and in some elderly patients may cause confusion.

Prevention is the key, and the need to treat constipation is usually due to a failure of prevention.

It should be anticipated when patients are taking opioids or anticholinergic drugs and it is imperative in these patients to prescribe prophylactic laxatives. "The hand that charts the morphine, charts the laxatives".

A rectal examination must be carried out on all patients to decide on appropriate treatment required.

Information about this Canterbury DHB document (4097):

Document Owner:

Palliative Care Service (see Who's Who)

Issue Date:

July 2009

Next Review:

July 2010

Note: Only the electronic version is controlled. Once printed, this is no longer a controlled document.

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Topic Code: 4097


Information about this Canterbury DHB document (4097):
Document Owner:	Palliative Care Service (see Who's Who)
Issue Date:	July 2009
Next Review:	July 2010
Note: Only the electronic version is controlled. Once printed, this is no longer a controlled document.
Send Feedback
Have you read the Disclaimer? These pathways, for the care and management of patients within Canterbury, have been developed jointly by primary and secondary care clinicians. They provide guidance for General Practice teams to diagnose and manage patients suffering from a number of different conditions, and contain patient information resources. The pathways are maps of publicly-funded services accessed by referral from the community, and are strongly evidence based, but are not full clinical guidelines. As the pathways are suggested guidance only, while using them you must exercise your own clinical judgement and pertinent clinical data when treating your patient. This site is intended to be flexible and frequently updated. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, all information should be verified.