Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38650661›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in surgery2024

Results of medical treatment with psyllium, lactobacillus, and tryptophan (Plurilac® Trio) in obstructive defecation syndrome.

Sayali Valiyeva, Domenico Tiso, Paolo Cerri, Antonio Pisciaroli, Renato Pietroletti

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in surgery, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Beyond stapled transanal rectal resectionWorld journal of gastrointestinal surgery · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sayali ValiyevaDepartment of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Domenico TisoClinical Nutrition, "Villa Maria" Hospital, Rimini, Italy.
Paolo CerriGeneral Surgery Department, Val Vibrata Hospital, Sant'Omero, Italy.
Antonio PisciaroliGeneral Surgery Department, Val Vibrata Hospital, Sant'Omero, Italy.
Renato PietrolettiDepartment of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Azienda Ospedaliera di Desio e Vimercate · ITUniversity of L'Aquila · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The term "obstructive defecation syndrome" (ODS) describes a complex condition characterized by defecatory disorders. Such a condition represents a significant proportion of patients, which is estimated to be up to 30% of patients affected by chronic constipation. Presently, a broad agreement has been reached on diagnostic studies, whereas the choice of treatment that aims to improve the quality of life and/or correct the prevalent abnormalities or all anatomical abnormalities remains controversial. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study on 174 patients out of a total of 232 with ODS who were observed in a specialized university unit of surgical coloproctology between 2018 and 2022. Clinical assessment included examining the values of the Agachan-Wexner constipation score and Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC)-quality of life (QoL) scores, a full digital anorectal examination, anoscopy, RX defecography, and a urogynecological consultation; a functional anorectal test, an endoanal ultrasound, and colonoscopy were performed in select patients. The patients were reevaluated after an 8-10-week course of medical treatment based on a high-fiber diet and fluid intake and 6 g of psyllium combined with lactobacillus and tryptophan b.i.d. The results were analyzed by means of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, comparing pretreatment scores with the results at the first follow-up visit. Results: After 8-10 weeks of conservative treatment, 128 patients declared full satisfaction, 29 reported moderate satisfaction, and 17 (9.7%) declared no improvement. Among these 17, there were 5 patients with paradoxical puborectal contractions. The value of the Agachan-Wexner constipation score after treatment decreased from the pretreatment Agachan-Wexner constipation score mean value of 23.4 ± 3.7 (mean ± SD range 15-27) to a mean value of 5.3 ± 0.7 (range 3-8, Conclusions: Given the benefits of conservative therapies, they represent a cornerstone in the treatment of ODS, a complex disorder. Diet and bulking agents are mandatory forms of treatment prior to making any surgical attempt, also considering the fact that the psychosomatic component of ODS is an essential prerequisite to match patient expectations.

Indexed as

chronic constipationdefecation disorderobstructive defecation syndromepsyllium fiberquality of life

Identifiers

PMID38650661
PMCPMC11033349
OpenAlexW4394575474

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.