J Clin Nurs: How to solve the problem of constipation after total hip replacement?

Constipation is a common problem for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), but there is little evidence to guide the prevention of constipation after THA .

Recently, Chinese scholars have carried out a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a comprehensive program to prevent constipation.

The study included 80 THA patients who were randomly assigned to receive only preoperative lifestyle education and education + postoperative abdominal massage + polyethylene glycol 4000 (Forlax®).

The results showed that the incidence of postoperative constipation during hospitalization of patients receiving comprehensive treatment was significantly lower than that of patients receiving only preoperative education (25% VS.

In summary, these results show that a comprehensive treatment plan can relieve constipation after THA, reduce the need for enema rescue, and shorten the time to first defecation while ensuring safety.

Original source:

Chen Yue, Youwen Liu, et al.