[Use of polyethylene glycol in the treatment of puerperal constipation]. / Uso del Polietilen Glicol como tratamiento del estreñimiento asociado al puerperio.

We evaluated the efficiency of polyethylene glycol at low dosage as a treatment for constipation in the puerperium. A prospective, open label and control study was performed in 225 puerpery patients. We observed a 94.7% of study group patients and a 10.7% of a control group patients had a evacuation in the first 48 hours, (p < 0.01). Decreased consistency of the stools was seen in the PEG group (74.3%). According to our findings, low doses of PEG were useful and safe as a treatment for constipation in the puerperium, without side effects.