In this episode of the Primary Care Knowledge Boost Podcast (PCKB) doctors Sara and Lisa talk to locum consultant, Dr Caitriona MacDermott, about assessing and managing constipation in palliative patients – a common symptom with significant impact on people’s quality of life.
The episode aims to get across the importance of this topic, the often multifactorial nature of clinical scenarios, the red flags not to miss and how to arm youreself with a logical and holistic approach to management.
Sara, Lisa and Caitriona discuss how management might differ for patients with certain conditions such as partial bowel obstruction, neurological causes, or liver disease.
The podcast is an important listen for those in the community looking after palliative patients.
Listen to the podcast episode at https://pckb.org/e/constipation-in-palliative-patients/
Useful resources
- Greater Manchester Palliative Care Symptom Control Guidelines for Adults (2019): https://www.england.nhs.uk/north-west/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/01/Palliative-Care-Pain-and-Symptom-Control-Guidelines.pdf
- Clinical Knowledge Summaries from NICE: Palliative Care – Constipation (Updated Feb 2024): https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/palliative-care-constipation/
- NICE CKS Table of Doses of Laxatives that can be used for Palliative Patients: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/palliative-care-constipation/prescribing-information/doses-of-laxatives/
