SynthesisBMJ paediatrics open2025
Systematic literature review and meta-analysis on therapeutic management of faecal impaction in the paediatric population.
Synthesis in BMJ paediatrics open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition/North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines for treatment of functional constipation in children aged 0-18 years.Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition · 2026Guideline
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo date, there is no universally accepted or standardised protocol for management of faecal impaction (FI) in paediatric population. If left untreated, it can lead to serious consequences for the health and well-being of the child. We set out to determine the effectiveness and safety of existing therapeutic interventions for FI in children and identify any gaps occurring in current research.
methodsWe have performed a systematic literature review on treatment of FI in paediatric population in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We have included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on all interventions for children (0-18 years old) with FI on background of functional constipation and excluded children with organic causes of FI. Our primary outcomes were treatment success, defecation frequency and withdrawals due to adverse events. We have performed a meta-analysis of the data.
resultsOut of 13 341 records identified, only eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria with a total of 513 participants randomised. The diagnosis of functional constipation was mainly made using ROME III criteria. The diagnosis of FI varied from study to study. We identified several intervention groups based on our search. Our analysis has shown that there is no difference probably between PEG (Polyethylene Glycol).and PEG with sodium picosulphate, and there may be no difference between PEG and rectal enema for treatment success, but enema may lead to greater stool frequency. No other studies produced anything other than very low certainty evidence.
conclusionsNo therapeutic approach was superior to others, with evidence limited by significant clinical heterogeneity related to varying patient and clinical factors, different outcome measures and limited study numbers. More high-quality research is needed to determine effective strategies for FI. Moreover, a consensus should be reached regarding the definition and diagnosis of FI as based on that a standardised approach to patient's care can be determined.
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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.