Implementing a Standardized Constipation-Management Pathway to Reduce Resource Utilization

Constipation is commonly diagnosed in our pediatric emergency department (ED). Care has varied significantly, with a heavy reliance on abdominal radiography (AR) for the diagnosis of and inpatient management for bowel cleanout. We implemented a standardized approach to caring for patients presenting to a pediatric ED with symptoms consistent with constipation, emphasizing clinical history, physical examination, less reliance on AR, and standardized home management.

Using quality improvement (QI) methodology, a multidisciplinary group developed an ED constipation management pathway, encouraging less reliance on AR for diagnosis and promoting home management over inpatient bowel cleanout. The pathway included a home management "gift basket" containing over-the-counter medications and educational materials to promote successful bowel cleanout. Outcome measures included pathway utilization, AR rate, ED cost and length of stay, and ED admission rate for constipation.

Within 3 months, >90% of patients discharged home with an ED disposition diagnosis of constipation left with standardized educational materials and home medications. Staff education and feedback, pathway and gift basket changes, and a higher threshold for inpatient management led to significant decreases in AR rate (73.3%-24.6%, P < .001), average per-patient cost ($637.42-$538.85), length of stay (223-196 minutes, P < .001), and ED admission rate (15.3%-5.4%, P < .001), with no concerning missed diagnoses or increases in ED revisit rate.

An ED QI project standardizing the care of pediatric constipation was implemented successfully, leading to a sustainable decrease in resource utilization. The next phase of the project will focus on collaborating with community providers to reduce ED utilization.