Constipation The Management of Constipation in Palliative Patients

Which strategy is considered the best when nurses must intervene with a patient suffering from constipation? The PubMed publication put out by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that there is some uncertainty within the healthcare field about the choice between managing constipation with drugs (pharmacologically) or with other various clinical programs in palliative care settings (Clemens, et al., 2013).

A section in the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing dedicated to bowel management -- written by researcher Denice Caraccia Economou -- explains that there is no absolute rule as to what intervention is best (220).

Pharmacological Management: The use of opioids is not always recommended for constipated patients, because they increase electrolyte and water absorption in both intestines which can lead to dehydration and dry, hard stools, according to Economou (221). Also morphine is not a recommended intervention because of the insensitivity it creates which prevents the patient from sensing that he needs to have a bowel movement. In terms of pharmacological management, lubricant laxatives (mineral oil laxatives) can cause some leaking from the rectum hence they are not recommended. When patients use bulk laxatives...

Suppositories are often rejected by some patients because they bring to mind an unpleasant concept, but they produce bowl movements quickly and hence, they are a recommended source of pharmacological management (Economou, 222). When palliative patients do not respond to standard laxatives, Economou reports that Relister has shown good success toward dealing with constipation.
Non- Pharmacological interventions: Nurses should encourage the use of fluids as a priority, especially for diabetic patients, who may be taking opioids (which increases the risk of constipation). Economou stresses the need for nurses to determine if the constipation has become an obstruction, and X-ray interventions can help determine the extent to which the constipation is blocking normal bowel functions, but in palliative care the use of X-ray technology is not recommended. But fluids should be…