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Oncologic Emergency Medicine pp 327–332Cite as

Constipation in Cancer Patients

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Abstract

The prevalence of constipation varies widely due to non-reporting or because this information is not captured during visits to hospital or outpatient clinics; however, it has been estimated to be in a range of 0.7 % to 79 % (median 16 %) in the worldwide general population (Mugie et al. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 25(1):3–18, 2011). Mugie and colleagues state that the difference can be attributed to other factors including socioeconomic, cultural, dietary, and environmental. There have been challenges to the way we practice medicine as a result of healthcare reform occurring in the United States and worldwide. Patients’ involvement in their care, and preventive care, is widely emphasized, as well as conscious use of limited resources. Visits to the emergency department (ED) and hospital admissions for constipation are considered avoidable if recognition of the risk factors and education are initiated proactively (Delgado-Guay et al. J Pain Symptom Manage 49(3):497–504, 2015).

Constipation is a common complaint in the ED. In this chapter, we will evaluate and discuss the factors associated with constipation in cancer patients, together with clinical manifestations, diagnoses, mechanism, and pathophysiology. We will also discuss when constipation constitutes an emergency, its treatment, prevention, and patient education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Carmen Esther Gonzalez MD, CMQ, FACP

  2. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Josiah K. Halm MD, MS, FACP

Authors
  1. Carmen Esther Gonzalez MD, CMQ, FACP
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  2. Josiah K. Halm MD, MS, FACP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmen Esther Gonzalez MD, CMQ, FACP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Houston, Texas, USA

    Knox H. Todd

  2. Portland, Oregon, USA

    Charles R. Thomas, Jr.

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Gonzalez, C.E., Halm, J.K. (2016). Constipation in Cancer Patients. In: Todd, K., Thomas, Jr., C. (eds) Oncologic Emergency Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26387-8_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26387-8_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-26385-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26387-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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