Related Experiment Videos
Constipation in children: avoiding hospital admissions by the use of a specialist community nurse
David Bartle1, Fiona Finlay, Fiona Atherton
1Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Insights
Many pediatric constipation admissions could be managed in the community. This review suggests that with appropriate resources, such as specialized community nurses, hospital stays for childhood constipation can be reduced.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Constipation is a common reason for pediatric hospital admissions.
- Assessing the appropriateness of inpatient management for pediatric constipation is crucial for optimizing healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pediatric admissions for constipation.
- To determine if community-based management is a viable alternative for some cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for all pediatric patients admitted with constipation.
- Analysis of admission data over a 12-month period in a district general hospital.
Main Results:
- 41 pediatric admissions for constipation were reviewed (19 girls, 22 boys).
- The age range of patients was 6 weeks to 12 years.
- The average length of hospital stay was less than two nights.
Conclusions:
- Short hospital stays indicate rapid improvement for most pediatric constipation admissions.
- Many of these admissions could potentially be managed in the community.
- Development of specialized community resources, like constipation-focused nurses, could facilitate community-based care.
Objective:
To review paediatric admissions with a primary diagnosis of constipation to see whether some could have been managed in the community instead.
Method:
A review of the medical notes of all patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of constipation to the children's ward of a district general hospital over a 12-month period.
Results:
Of 41 admissions (19 girls and 22 boys, age range 6 weeks to 12 years), the average length of stay was less than two nights.
Conclusion:
The short duration of hospital stay implies rapid improvement. It is likely that many of these children could have been managed in the community if suitable resources, such as a community nurse specialising in constipation, were available.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:25Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...