Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol Dosing for Functional Constipation in Children

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the current use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic. The primary endpoint was to determine the current weight-based PEG dosing schedules used for home cleanouts and maintenance treatment for functional constipation. The secondary endpoint was to assess the dosing efficacy for home cleanouts. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of electronic medical records documenting new patient visits at our pediatric gastroenterology clinic between September 2017 and October 2018. Patients included in the study were 13 months to 18 years of age and prescribed PEG for an at-home cleanout and/or maintenance therapy for functional or slow transit constipation. Study participants given a clean-out regimen were divided into those who received treatment for less than 2 days or more. Cleanouts were considered successful if documented as such by the prescriber in the follow-up note or if there was documentation of clear flow. Results: Of the 201 new patients included, 112 (55.7%) received a recommendation for a home cleanout. Of these, 111 patients (99%) underwent PEG-based therapy with or without additional agents. The median weight-based PEG dose was 5.3 ± 2.4 and 4.6 ± 1.9 g/kg/day for 1- and 2-day cleanouts, respectively (P = 0.124). Of the 38 patients with documented outcomes, 28 (73.7%) were successful. We observed no statistically significant differences in the number of successful versus unsuccessful outcomes based on PEG dosing (P = 0.3) or cumulative dose exposures (P = 0.388). Similarly, we observed no significant differences when comparing those on 1-day versus 2-or-more-day cleanouts, (P = 0.17). The median weight-based maintenance PEG dose was 0.74 g/kg/day (interquartile range [IQR], 0.55, 0.96). Conclusions: While the PEG doses used by this clinic for 1-day bowel cleanouts align with the NASPGHAN best practices for colonoscopy report, patients who underwent a 2-day cleanout were provided more than double the weight-based doses. The doses were nearly 3-fold higher than the recommended doses for functional constipation home cleanouts. More information will be needed to determine if these higher doses for home cleanouts are needed for the successful management of patients with functional constipation.