Constipation screening

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Overview

According to the USPSTF, screening for constipation is not recommended in general population. In palliative care patients, screening for constipation by specific questionnaire about subjective and objective findings is recommended.

Screening

  • According to the USPSTF, screening for constipation is not recommended in general population.
Group Question Answer interpretation
Symptoms Do you have pain, discomfort or a sensation of incomplete evacuation when having a bowel movement? Positive response reflects constipation
Please indicate the degree of ‘‘discomfort or difficult with constipation’’

0=None

10=Maximum discomfort

Higher scores reflect more constipation severity
Signs On average: How many bowel movements per week do you estimate you have had over the last 3 weeks? < 3 movements reflects constipation
Please indicate the usual hardness of your bowels.

Hard, soft or normal?

Are they runny or pasty?

Hard consistency reflects constipation
Fecal impaction Fecal impaction defined as the accumulation of hard feces in the rectum that would require unusual effort to evacuate, such as manual extraction, repetitive enemas, or intensive oral use of laxatives. Positive response reflects constipation

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Noguera A, Centeno C, Librada S, Nabal M (2009). "Screening for constipation in palliative care patients". J Palliat Med. 12 (10): 915–20. doi:10.1089/jpm.2009.0054. PMID 19747036.

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