Management of constipation in palliative care

Draft guideline, 2013. — 66 p.Constipation is one of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with advanced, progressive illness. In palliative medicine, constipation is the third most frequently encountered symptom after pain and anorexia. Common factors which increase the risk of constipation in this population include physical illness, hospitalisation and the use of opioids. Constipation can occur at any stage in the disease trajectory, but evidence suggests that constipation is more problematic in advanced disease. When present, constipation causes considerable suffering for the affected individual, either as a direct consequence of the physical symptoms or due to related social and psychological complications.