Patient with constipation syndrome at the ambulatory-polyclinic reception: actual aspects of differential diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Constipation is a serious medical and social problem due to the widespread prevalence of this condition, a decrease in the quality of life and social activity of patients. For the successful treatment of constipation, it is necessary to establish the causes leading to the violation of the stool in the patient. And this task is a priority for the doctor at the outpatient stage.The clinical features of constipation largely depend on their cause, duration, severity and characteristics of intestinal damage. Constipation is often accompanied by general somatic and other gastroenterological symptoms.Within the framework of the review article, the main conditions and diseases are considered, in the clinical picture of which there is constipation syndrome, which must be considered by the doctor at the outpatient stage when conducting differential diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment, which also presupposes impact on causal factors. Currently, drugs based on high molecular weight polyethylene glycol 4000 are widely used to treat chronic constipation in adults and children in most countries of the world. Preparations based on polyethylene glycol 4000 are affordable and easy to use, they can be used both on an outpatient basis and in a hospital. Polyethylene glycol 4000 preparations act quickly, are highly effective and well tolerated, have a  high safety profile  (practically does not affect homeostasis) both for  adult patients and in  pediatric practice. International clinical trials have shown the possibility of long-term use of polyethylene glycol 4000 preparations.Current international clinical guidelines and domestic clinical guidelines for the treatment of constipation recommend the use of  polyethylene glycol 4000  preparations instead of  lactulose and volume-forming laxatives in  the  symptomatic treatment of constipation in children and adults. In the second part of the review, the possibilities of polyethylene glycol 4000 and the first domestic drug polyethylene glycol 4000 in the treatment of chronic constipation are considered.