Testing control of radiation-induced diarrhea with a psyllium bulking agent: a pilot study.

Sixty cancer patients who were undergoing radiation therapy to the pelvis of at least 4,000 cGy in 20 fractions over four weeks were randomized to take or not take Metamucil. Results were analyzed for the presence of radiation-induced diarrhea in two groups: patients taking Metamucil (n = 30) or not taking Metamucil (n = 30). The Murphy Diarrhea Scale was developed to assist in the synthesis of data collected in daily patient-reported diaries. Results were analyzed using ANOVA F-tests. Metamucil significantly decreased the incidence (p = 0.049) and severity (p = 0.030) of diarrhea and showed a strong trend in reducing the use of anti-diarrhea medication (p = 0.062). According to this pilot study, Metamucil was an effective method of controlling radiation-induced diarrhea. Results of this pilot study have implications for clinical practice and nursing research.

[1]  K. Keinert,et al.  [D-xylose test of resorption as a method to determine radiation side effects in the small intestine]. , 1998, Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al].

[2]  D. Rutledge,et al.  Cancer-related diarrhea: selected findings of a national survey of oncology nurse experiences. , 1998, Oncology nursing forum.

[3]  A. Bisanz.  Managing bowel elimination problems in patients with cancer. , 1997, Oncology nursing forum.

[4]  L. Davidson,et al.  The effects of psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid on diarrhea in enterally fed patients. , 1997, Heart & lung : the journal of critical care.

[5]  S. Kaasa,et al.  Quality of life during pelvic radiotherapy , 1995, Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica.

[6]  J. Kaanders,et al.  Early Reactions as Dose-Limiting Factors in Radiotherapy. , 1994, Seminars in radiation oncology.

[7]  E. Eisenhauer,et al.  Common toxicity criteria: The National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) experience , 1992 .

[8]  D. Heimburger.  Defining and reporting diarrhea in tube-fed patients--what a mess! , 1992, JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition.

[9]  R. Settle,et al.  Defining and reporting diarrhea in tube-fed patients--what a mess! , 1992, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[10]  A. Bobrove.  Misoprostol, diarrhea, and psyllium mucilloid. , 1990, Annals of internal medicine.

[11]  J. Daly,et al.  Impact of antitumor therapy on nutrition. , 1986, The Surgical clinics of North America.

[12]  D. Thomson,et al.  A clinical trial evaluating cholestyramine to prevent diarrhea in patients maintained on low-fat diets during pelvic radiation therapy. , 1984, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[13]  J. Shuster,et al.  Dietary protection during radiation therapy. , 1975, Strahlentherapie.

[14]  J. E. Freeman.  Radiotherapy , 1966 .

[15]  G. Wiernik.  Radiation damage and repair in the human jejunal mucosa. , 1966, The Journal of pathology and bacteriology.

[16]  J. S. Trier,et al.  Morphologic response of the mucosa of human small intestine to x-ray exposure. , 1966, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[17]  D. Mollin,et al.  NUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTENSIVE LESIONS OF THE DISTAL SMALL INTESTINE IN MAN. , 1964, The Quarterly journal of medicine.

[18]  W. Klish,et al.  Use of psyllium in the management of chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood. , 1982, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[19]  I. Bosaeus,et al.  Effect of a low-fat diet on bile salt excretion and diarrhoea in the gastrointestinal radiation syndrome. , 1979, Acta radiologica: oncology, radiation, physics, biology.

[20]  J. Rask-Madsen,et al.  Effect of amiloride on electrical activity and electrolyte transport in human colon. , 1977, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology.

[21]  S. Tarpila.  Morphological and functional response of human small intestine to ionizing irradiation. , 1971, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Supplement.