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[Saline enemas as treatment of faecal impaction in paediatric emergencies]
E Bárcena Fernández1, R San Emeterio Herrero, G Santos González
1Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital de Cruces, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, España. ESTIBALIZ.BARCENAFERNANDEZ@osakidetza.net
Insights
Saline enemas effectively relieve symptoms of pediatric fecal impaction in most children. This treatment is well-tolerated and accepted by patients, families, and healthcare staff, with minimal adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
Context:
- Fecal impaction is a common pediatric condition presenting in emergency departments.
- Effective and well-tolerated treatments are crucial for managing pediatric constipation and impaction.
- Saline enemas are a frequently used intervention for fecal impaction in children.
Purpose:
- To assess the efficacy and tolerability of saline enemas for pediatric fecal impaction.
- To evaluate patient, family, and healthcare staff perception and acceptance of the enema procedure.
- To analyze treatment outcomes based on patient age and weight.
Summary:
- A prospective study evaluated 79 children (0-14 years) with fecal impaction treated with saline enemas.
- 62% of children reported relief, with symptomatic relief in 42.9% and complete relief in 12.7%.
- Treatment was generally well-tolerated, accepted by families and staff, with a mean satisfaction score of 5/10.
Impact:
- Saline enemas provide significant symptom relief for pediatric fecal impaction.
- The procedure is safe, well-tolerated, and accepted by pediatric patients and their families.
- This study supports the use of saline enemas as a primary treatment for fecal impaction in children.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the treatment and to know the perception and acceptance of the procedure on the part of the patient, his family and the sanitary staff.
Material And Methods:
Descriptive and prospective study of the children between 0 and 14 years of age who were diagnosed of faecal impaction at the time when they came to the Paediatric Emergency Department of the Cruces Hospital and the professional who cared for them decided to make a treatment with saline enemas. In a form were picked up the variables.
Results:
During the period of time between January and June of 2008, 79 patients were studied, with a mean age of 5.8 +/- 3.4 years. The mean time response after the enema administration was 26 +/- 24.16 minutes. A 38% of the children reported to have no relief and a 62% did report relief, of which 42.9% felt a symptomatic relief and 12.7% a complete relief. Of the child <3 years, the 48.6% showed some degree of relief, between 3 and 7 years the 70.4% and the >7 years the 75%. According to the weight, the 48.6% of the children <20 kg felt relief, the 78.3% of the children between 20 and 30 kg and the 65% of the >30 kg. In the evaluation of the treatment by the parents and the investigator, the mean punctuation in a scale from 0 (completely unsatisfactory) to 10 (very satisfactory), was of 5. A 50% of the children referred some degree of discomfort, in the 83% of cases, slight.
Conclusions:
The administration of saline enemas relieves the symptoms of faecal impaction in a high percentage of patients. This treatment is generally well tolerated, with no significant adverse effects and is well accepted by the children's families and by the healthcare staff.
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