The Lack of Movement

Abstract

Constipation is a common and often overlooked symptom for pediatric palliative care patients. In this chapter, constipation for children receiving palliative care is defined as the passage of small, hard feces infrequently and with difficulty. Patients with constipation may present with a variety of gastrointestinal or urinary symptoms requiring a thorough history and exam. Some patients may have a treatable underlying etiology, but it is very common that the underlying cause may not be reversible or cannot be identified. These cases will require laxatives to treat and prevent constipation. Cases of opioid-induced constipation may benefit from opioid antagonists. This chapter presents a review of etiologies of constipation in children receiving palliative care as well as a review of laxatives that may be used in these patients.