ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a new polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxative (MiraLax, Braintree Laboratories Inc, Braintree, Mass) in 23 patients reporting a history of constipation. METHODS: After a 7-day placebo control period, patients were randomized into a double crossover trial of placebo versus 17 g of PEG daily for 4 days. Patient maintained a stool diary. RESULTS: Daily ingestion of a 17 g dose of PEG increased mean daily bowel movement frequency to once per day by the last 7 days of the 14-day treatment period. This was a statistically significant improvement over placebo, which provided about 1 bowel movement every 2 days during the last week of therapy. Patient diary ratings of related subjective symptoms were improved with PEG treatment over placebo. Both investigator and patients rated PEG therapy superior to placebo. No clinically significant changes in blood chemistry, complete blood count (CBC), or urinalysis were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Daily therapy with 17 g of PEG laxative for 14 days resulted in a significant improvement in bowel movement frequency in constipated patients relative to placebo by the second week of treatment.
Subject(s)
Cathartics/therapeutic use , Constipation/drug therapy , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Adult , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Heartburn, the main symptom of gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GORD), might be expected to occur infrequently in achalasia, a disorder characterised by a hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) that fails to relax. Nevertheless, it is often described by patients with achalasia. The medical records of 32 patients with untreated achalasia who complained of heartburn, and of 35 similar patients who denied the symptom, were reviewed to explore the implications of heartburn in this condition. Data on endoscopic and manometric findings, and on the onset and duration of oesophageal symptoms were collected. Three patterns of heartburn were observed: (1) in 8 patients (25%) the onset of heartburn followed the onset of dysphagia, (2) in 15 patients (47%) heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and persisted as dysphagia progressed, and (3) in 9 patients (28%), heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and stopped as dysphagia progressed. The mean (SD) basal LOS pressure in the patients with heartburn (38 (16) mm Hg) was significantly lower than that in patients without the symptom (52 (26) mm Hg); the lowest LOS pressure (29 (11) mm Hg) was observed in the subset of patients whose heartburn preceded the onset of dysphagia and then stopped. It is concluded that patients who have achalasia with heartburn have lower basal LOS pressures than patients who have achalasia without this symptom. In some patients with achalasia, the appearance of dysphagia is heralded by the disappearance of longstanding heartburn. For these patients, it is speculated that achalasia develops in the setting of underlying GORD.
Subject(s)
Esophageal Achalasia/complications , Heartburn/complications , Deglutition Disorders/complications , Deglutition Disorders/physiopathology , Disease Progression , Esophageal Achalasia/physiopathology , Esophagogastric Junction/physiopathology , Female , Heartburn/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Manometry , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Weight LossABSTRACT
A 67-yr-old anicteric man with esophageal varices underwent a percutaneous liver biopsy. The procedure was complicated by bile peritonitis resulting in an acute abdomen that was successfully managed conservatively with intravenous fluids, antibiotic therapy, and intensive care unit monitoring. The published literature on this complication after liver biopsy is reviewed.
