SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2016
Comparison of the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol with and without electrolytes in constipation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06349031 (Comparison of Efficacy & Tolerability Of Polyethylene Glycol 4000 Versus Polyethylene Glycol 3350+ Electrolytes For Fecal Disimpaction in Pediatric Functional Constipation), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Polyethylene Glycol 3350 With Electrolytes Versus Polyethylene Glycol 4000 for Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition · 2018Trial
- The mechanisms and management of fecal incontinence in geriatric neurological diseases.Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society · 2026Review
- Comparison of Polyethylene Glycol 3350+Electrolytes vs. Polyethylene Glycol 4000 for Fecal Disimpaction in Pediatric Functional Constipation: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition · 2025Article
- Medical Management of Constipation in Elderly Patients: Systematic Review.Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility · 2021Review
- The Specific and Nonspecific Effects of Tai Chi and Its Possible Central Responses: A Protocol of Neuroimaging Study.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021Article
- Comparative safety of bowel cleansers: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2018Article
- Macrogol (polyethylene glycol) 4000 without electrolytes in the symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation: a profile of its use.Drugs & therapy perspectives : for rational drug selection and use · 2018Article
- Comparison of acupuncture and other drugs for chronic constipation: A network meta-analysis.PloS one · 2018Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Combined Oral and Enema Therapy Using Polyethylene Glycol 3350-Electrolyte for Disimpaction in Pediatric Constipation.Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPolyethylene glycol is commonly used to manage constipation and is available with or without electrolytes. The addition of electrolytes dates back to its initial development as lavage solutions in preparation for gastrointestinal interventions. The clinical utility of the addition of electrolytes to polyethylene glycol for the management of constipation is not established. The objective of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) was to assess the relative effectiveness of polyethylene glycol with (PEG + E) or without electrolytes (PEG) in the management of functional constipation in adults.
methodsA systematic review was conducted to identify randomised controlled clinical trials that assessed the use of polyethylene glycol in functional constipation. The primary outcome was the mean number of bowel movements per week.
resultsNineteen studies were included in the NMA (PEG N = 9, PEG + E N = 8, PEG versus PEG + E N = 2; involving 2247 patients). PEG and PEG + E are both effective, increasing the number of bowel movements per week by 1.8 (95 % Crl 1.0, 2.8) and 1.9 (95 % Crl 0.9, 3.0) respectively versus placebo and by 1.8 (95 % Crl 0.0, 3.5) and 1.9 (95 % Crl 0.2, 3.6) respectively versus lactulose. There was no efficacy difference between PEG + E and PEG (0.1, 95 % Crl -1.1, 1.2) and there were no differences in safety or tolerability.
conclusionsPolyethylene glycol with and without electrolytes are effective and safe treatments for constipation in adults. The addition of electrolytes to polyethylene glycol does not appear to offer any clinical benefits over polyethylene glycol alone in the management of constipation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.