Intestinal transit time in constipated and non-constipated geriatric patients.

Intestinal transit was measured by following a radioisotope capsule through the gut. The transit in 16 elderly patients with chronic constipation was compared with that in 16 patients of the same age and with 10 healthy younger people without constipation. Although the constipated patients generally had a slower total transit time through the gut, some old and young people without constipation also showed a slow total transit. Constipated patients had a significantly slower transit only through the rectosigmoidal part of the colon. It is also suggested that old age per se does not imply an increased transit time.

A study on liquid diet in geriatric patients.

The intake of energy and nutrients was studied during 16 days in nine geriatrics immobilized patients who had received a conventional liquid diet for an extended period of time. The intake of energy averaged only 870 kcal/24 h. Fat intake was very low, averaging 16 g/24 h, which corresponds to 17 per cent of the total energy intake. The mean protein intake was 33 g/24 h. To improve the energy and nutrient content a food supplementation was added to the liquid diet. During the following 16 days the intake of energy increased to a daily mean of 1380 kcal. Fat and protein intake increased to 38 and 73 g/24 h, respectively. No essential change in the volume consumed after addition of the food supplementation was observed. Urinary nitrogen excretion was analyzed during the study. A positive nitrogen balance occurred after the patients had received the food supplementation.

Transit time in constipated geriatric patients during treatment with a bulk laxative and bran: a comparison.

Transit time, as estimated from the passage through the gut of an isotope (131I)-containing capsule, was studied in 10 constipated, geriatric in-patients on a bulk laxative regimen and during treatment with wheat bran. The patients received a conventional bulk laxative (Vi-Siblin, 6 g twice daily) during a period of 8 weeks. The bulk laxative was then replaced by bran (10 g twice daily) during the following 8-week period. Measurements of transit time were taken after 4 and 6 weeks on each regimen. The mean transit time was 126 h for the bulk laxative regimen and 89 h for the bran treatment, the difference being statistically significant. The decrease in transit time for the bran treatment was essentially due to a faster passage through the rectosigmoid part of the bowel. Less additional laxative therapy was needed during bran treatment than during the bulk laxative treatment. The favourable properties of bran may tentatively be explained by the effects remaining in the distal part of the colon. A slight but significant lowering of the serum calcium level and a significant increase of the total iron-binding capacity of the serum were found after 7 weeks of bran administration, whereas no change was observed after 42 weeks. No significant change was demonstrated in serum iron during bran treatment.

Long term study of hypnotic medication in geriatric patients. A study of dixyrazine, nitrazepam and amylobarbitone.

The hypnotic effect of dixyrazine (a phenothiazine derivate), nitrazepam and amylobarbitone was studied during six months in 52 geriatric inpatients (17, 16 and 19 in each group, respectively) with a mean age of 78 years. The variables registered were the percentage of patients asleep at 10 pm and 6 am and the observed number of awakenings. Certain mental and somatic variables were rated according to a schedule for geriatric behaviour. The observations were made every two to three weeks. No systematic significant change with time was observed for any of the three drugs for the percentage of patients asleep at 10 pm or 6 am or for the number of awakenings. Nor was any difference found between the three drugs in respect of these variables. There was no significant change in somatic or mental variables according to the geriatric rating schedule. The results indicate that dixyrazine, nitrazepam and amylobarbitone retain their hypnotic effect in geriatric patients during continuous use for a six-month period. No side effects were observed that influenced the patient' behaviour. The results do not support the view that barbiturates, i.e. amylobarbitone are inappropriate as hypnotics in the elderly patient.