CISAPRIDE IN NEUROLOGICALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC CONSTIPATION

The efficacy of cisapride as a treatment for chronic constipation in c hildren with severe brain damage was studied in 20 children. Each subj ect was randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with either cisapr ide (N = 10) or placebo (N = 10) for 12 weeks. Stool habits, total gas trointestinal transit time, colonic segmental transit times, and anore ctal motility were evaluated in all children before and at the end of the treatment period. Although cisapride significantly (P < 0.05) incr eased stool frequency from baseline to week 12 and no significant chan ge was documented in the placebo group, the mean change in stool frequ ency per week from baseline to 12 week was not significantly different between the two treatment groups. The use of laxatives or suppositori es was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by cisapride, but remained u nchanged in the placebo group. Furthermore, cisapride significantly (P < 0.05) reduced rectal compliance but had no effect on total gastroin testinal transit time and colonic segmental transit times. In summary, in neurologically impaired children with chronic constipation, cisapr ide increased bowel frequency but did not alter the delay in total and segmental gastrointestinal transit times.