Polyethylene glycol 3350 doesn't cut time to bowel movement

(HealthDay)—For women undergoing urogynecologic surgery, addition of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG3350) to docusate sodium does not reduce the time to first bowel movement, according to a study published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Autumn L. Edenfield, M.D., from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and colleagues examined the time to first bowel movement and additional gastrointestinal outcomes for women after urogynecologic surgery. Participants received docusate sodium and were randomized to PEG3350 (66 women) and placebo (65 women) for five days after surgery.

The researchers found that, compared with placebo, PEG3350 did not significantly reduce the time to first bowel movement (2.77 versus 2.92 days; P = 0.25). The likelihood of taking additional laxatives postoperatively was lower for women in the PEG3350 group, and they were also more adherent to the study drug regimen. The two groups had similar questionnaire scores, fecal incontinence, and urgency.

"In women taking routine docusate sodium after urogynecologic surgery, adding PEG3350 postoperatively did not reduce time to first bowel movement but decreased the use of additional laxatives and increased adherence with a postoperative bowel regimen," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.