[Effect of combined drug treatment on megacolon with severe constipation].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of combined drug treatment on megacolon complicated by severe constipation.

METHODS

Ten patients with megacolon confirmed by barium enema examination, 4 males and 6 females, aged 38 (15 - 66), with a mean course of 10 years (2 weeks - 23 years), all complicated by severe constipation and 5 cases with colonic obstruction confirmed by X-ray examination, 1 being diagnosed as with Hirschsprung' disease, 3 secondary to chronic constipation, 1 with diabetes mellitus, 1 with a history of anorectal malformation, 4 with colonic pseudo-obstruction, and 4 with colonic pseudo-obstruction, were treated with combined conservative therapy including tegaserod (6 mg 2/d), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 (20 - 40 g/d), and liuweianxiao (traditional Chinese medicine, 5 # 3/d). Colon enema was used in the first week if necessary. Follow-up was conducted for 1 - 7 months. The major clinical data included bowel symptoms, complications and adverse effects.

RESULTS

After 1 - 2 weeks of treatment, properties of feces, defecation times, defecation difficulty, and abdominal symptoms, and X-ray findings were all notably improved. No relapse of colonic obstruction was found. The 5 patients with colonic obstruction all showed release. Regarding adverse effect, mild diarrhea was found in 2 cases and was relieved when the dosage was decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined drug treatment including tegaserod, PEG 4000 and traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating megacolon with severe constipation and may help avoid surgical treatment.