Pilot Study of the Effect of Lactulose on Post Caesarean Section Constipation
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2012-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Constipation following elective Caesarean sections (CS) is a common problem experienced by up
to 50% of patients (1). The causes for this are multifactorial and include manipulation of
the bowel during surgery, immobilisation and opiate based anaesthetic and analgesic
techniques. To try to alleviate the problem of postoperative constipation, some anaesthetists
prescribe postoperative lactulose in addition to postoperative analgesia, although no data
exists that shows whether this has any beneficial effect on postoperative constipation.
1. Short term morbidity associated with Caesarean delivery. Hillan EM. Birth. 19 (4): 190-4).