Comparison of Efficacy & Tolerability Of Polyethylene Glycol 4000 Versus Polyethylene Glycol 3350+ Electrolytes For Fecal Disimpaction in Pediatric Functional Constipation: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

IEC/IMS.SH/SOA/2024/683

Childhood constipation is a common but serious gastrointestinal disorder prevalent worldwide. In 90-95% of children, it is of functional origin. Thirty to seventy-five percent of children with functional constipation also have fecal impaction. The treatment strategy for functional constipation includes fecal disimpaction and maintenance therapy to ensure regular bowel movements. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) based laxatives have been recommended as the first-line therapeutic agents. The commonly used formulations are PEG 3350 with a molecular weight between 3200- 3700 g/mol and PEG 4000 with molecular weight of 4000 g/mol. Both are shown to be effective in pediatric constipation management in placebo-controlled trials. PEG 3350 + Electrolyte (E) is more widely used than PEG 4000 for the management of constipation. This might be because of the perception that PEG 3350 + E is safer in terms of preventing electrolyte imbalance. However, because of the inclusion of electrolytes, PEG 3350+ E solution taste saltier than PEG 4000. Many patients struggle to tolerate the unpleasant taste resulting in the high incidence of non-compliance. To date, no pediatric trials have compared PEG 4000 versus PEG 3350+E for management of Fecal disimpaction. Present study has been planned to evaluate the efficacy \& tolerability of PEG 4000 versus PEG 3350+ E for fecal disimpaction in pediatric functional constipation. Patients between age 1-16 years having functional constipation (as per ROME IV criteria) with fecal impaction will be included. Subjects will be randomly assigned to either PEG 4000 or PEG 3350+E at a ratio of 1:1. They will be stratified into 3 different age groups: 1-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-16 years. They will receive either of the PEG solutions (as per allocation) at a dose of 1.5 gm/kg/day for 6 consecutive days or till the resolution of fecal impaction whichever is earlier. The resolution of fecal impaction is defined as the passage of clear liquid stool and the disappearance of palpable abdominal fecolith. Primary outcome is defined as the proportion of subjects achieving fecal disimpaction in each arm. Secondary outcomes are defined as follows: 1. Total no of Days required to achieve fecal disimpaction in each arm 2. Cumulative dose of PEG required for fecal disimpaction in each arm 3. Proportion of subjects (\> 5 years age) reporting palatability issues in each arm 4. Proportion of subjects discontinuing the treatment due to palatability issues in each arm

2024-04-15

2024-09-15

2024-09-15

Not yet recruiting

Early phase I

100

Inclusion Criteria: - 1-16 years age admitted to the inpatient department 2. Having h/o functional constipation as per ROME IV criteria 3)with Fecal impaction defined as A hard mass in the lower abdomen identified on physical examination or Dilated rectum filled with large amount of stool on per rectal Examination or Excessive stool in the colon on abdominal radiography as determined by a radiologist Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with drug-induced constipation 2. Organic constipation ie, I.Neurological disorders eg. Neural tube defects/cerebral/motor neuron diseases/neuro regression syndromes II.Hirschsprung disease, or anal anomalies III.Known metabolic or endocrine disorders 3. Patients with previous gastrointestinal surgery (except appendectomy) 4. Children with suspected gastrointestinal obstruction 5. Patients taking PEG (either at the time of enrolment or within 2 month before enrolment) 6. Patients receiving medication at enrolment or within 1 month before enrolment influencing gastrointestinal motility function (eg, lactulose, loperamide, cisapride) 7. Known history of Allergy to PEG formulations 8. Patients having comorbidity of any other system like CVS/Respiratory/CNS etc 9. Known case of Chronic kidney disease or history of acute kidney injury in past 3 monthes

{'studyType': 'INTERVENTIONAL', 'phases': ['PHASE4'], 'designInfo': {'allocation': 'RANDOMIZED', 'interventionModel': 'PARALLEL', 'interventionModelDescription': 'DOUBLE BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL', 'primaryPurpose': 'TREATMENT', 'maskingInfo': {'masking': 'QUADRUPLE', 'maskingDescription': 'One member of the research group will do the treatment allocation and will not be involved in clinical evaluation and collection of outcome data. Both study medications will be provided by him/her in opaque bottles with identical packaging and labeling. Neither the participants nor the rest of the study personnel will be aware of the treatment allocation.', 'whoMasked': ['PARTICIPANT', 'CARE_PROVIDER', 'INVESTIGATOR', 'OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR']}}, 'enrollmentInfo': {'count': 100, 'type': 'ESTIMATED'}}

2024-04-12