Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: No studies have analysed the effectiveness of treatment for constipation in critically ill children. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation, efficacy and safety of a treatment protocol using polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes (PEG 3350 + E) for constipation in critically ill children.
METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective study in children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for a minimum of 72 h and who developed constipation. Children with previous gastrointestinal disorders or diseases were excluded. The patients were treated with rectal enemas or with the oral PEG 3350 + E protocol at the discretion of the treating physician. We compared clinical and demographic variables as well as adverse events (diarrhoea, abdominal distension and electrolyte imbalances).
RESULTS: The sample included 56 patients with a mean age of 48.2 ± 11.9 months, of who 55.4% were male. Forty-four patients (78.6%) were treated with PEG 3350 + E and 12 (21.4%) with rectal enemas. The proportion of patients that responded well to treatment was greater in the PEG 3350 + E group (79.5%) compared to the enema group (58.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .151). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the adverse effects. Treatment with PEG 3350 + E was more effective in children aged less than 2 years (100%) compared to older children (100% vs 65.4%; P < .01), with no significant differences in the development of adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS: The PEG 3350 + E treatment protocol for constipation in critically ill children was effective and associated with few adverse events, even in children aged less than 2 years.
METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective study in children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for a minimum of 72 h and who developed constipation. Children with previous gastrointestinal disorders or diseases were excluded. The patients were treated with rectal enemas or with the oral PEG 3350 + E protocol at the discretion of the treating physician. We compared clinical and demographic variables as well as adverse events (diarrhoea, abdominal distension and electrolyte imbalances).
RESULTS: The sample included 56 patients with a mean age of 48.2 ± 11.9 months, of who 55.4% were male. Forty-four patients (78.6%) were treated with PEG 3350 + E and 12 (21.4%) with rectal enemas. The proportion of patients that responded well to treatment was greater in the PEG 3350 + E group (79.5%) compared to the enema group (58.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .151). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the adverse effects. Treatment with PEG 3350 + E was more effective in children aged less than 2 years (100%) compared to older children (100% vs 65.4%; P < .01), with no significant differences in the development of adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS: The PEG 3350 + E treatment protocol for constipation in critically ill children was effective and associated with few adverse events, even in children aged less than 2 years.
摘要：
目的：尚无研究分析危重患儿便秘治疗的有效性。这项研究的目的是评估实施情况，使用聚乙二醇3350和电解质（PEG3350+E）治疗危重儿童便秘的疗效和安全性。
方法：我们对入住儿科重症监护病房至少72小时并出现便秘的儿童进行了单中心前瞻性研究。排除先前患有胃肠道疾病或疾病的儿童。根据治疗医师的判断，对患者进行直肠灌肠或口服PEG3350+E方案治疗。我们比较了临床和人口统计学变量以及不良事件(腹泻，腹胀和电解质失衡)。
结果：样本包括56名患者，平均年龄为48.2±11.9个月，其中55.4%是男性。44例患者（78.6％）接受PEG3350E治疗，12例（21.4％）接受直肠灌肠治疗。与灌肠组(58.3%)相比，PEG3350+E组患者对治疗反应良好的比例(79.5%)更高，但差异无统计学意义(P=.151)。两组之间的任何不良反应均无显着差异。与年龄较大的儿童相比，PEG3350+E治疗2岁以下儿童（100％）更有效（100％vs65.4％；P<0.01），不良事件的发展没有显着差异。
结论：PEG3350+E治疗危重患儿便秘有效，不良反应少，即使是2岁以下的儿童。
方法：我们对入住儿科重症监护病房至少72小时并出现便秘的儿童进行了单中心前瞻性研究。排除先前患有胃肠道疾病或疾病的儿童。根据治疗医师的判断，对患者进行直肠灌肠或口服PEG3350+E方案治疗。我们比较了临床和人口统计学变量以及不良事件(腹泻，腹胀和电解质失衡)。
结果：样本包括56名患者，平均年龄为48.2±11.9个月，其中55.4%是男性。44例患者（78.6％）接受PEG3350E治疗，12例（21.4％）接受直肠灌肠治疗。与灌肠组(58.3%)相比，PEG3350+E组患者对治疗反应良好的比例(79.5%)更高，但差异无统计学意义(P=.151)。两组之间的任何不良反应均无显着差异。与年龄较大的儿童相比，PEG3350+E治疗2岁以下儿童（100％）更有效（100％vs65.4％；P<0.01），不良事件的发展没有显着差异。
结论：PEG3350+E治疗危重患儿便秘有效，不良反应少，即使是2岁以下的儿童。
