Constipation following elective Caesarean sections (CS) is a common problem experienced by up to 50% of patients (1). The causes for this are multifactorial and include manipulation of the bowel during surgery, immobilisation and opiate based anaesthetic and analgesic techniques. To try to alleviate the problem of postoperative constipation, some anaesthetists prescribe postoperative lactulose in addition to postoperative analgesia, although no data exists that shows whether this has any beneficial effect on postoperative constipation. 1\. Short term morbidity associated with Caesarean delivery. Hillan EM. Birth. 19 (4): 190-4).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Lactulose liquid. 15mls twice daily
Forth Park Hospital
Kirkcaldy, Fife, United Kingdom
Time in hours to passage of first stool post Caesarean Section.
Time (hours) to first bowel motion post elective LSCS betwwen Lactulose and non-Lactulose groups.
Time frame: First 5 days post Caesarean section.
Frequency of abdominal pain between lactulose and non-lactulose groups.
Frequency of abdominal pain between lactulose and non-lactulose groups post Caesarean Section.
Time frame: First 5 days post Caesarean section.
Frequency of nausea and vomiting between lactulose and non-lactulose groups
Frequency of nausea and vomiting between lactulose and non-lactulose groups post Caesarean Section.
Time frame: First 5 days post-Caesarean
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