The Appropriateness of Glycerin Enema in Pediatric Patients Visiting the Emergency Department

Abstract

Objectives: We determined whether glycerin enemas were appropriately prescribed in pediatric fecal impaction patients using the Leech score and identified factors that influenced the prescription of glycerin enemas in the pediatric emergency department (PED). Methods: We included patients who received a glycerin enema at the PED of a tertiary teaching hospital. We divided the study subjects into two groups on the basis of their Leech scores: an appropriate enema group (Leech score ≥ 8), and an inappropriate enema group (Leech score p p p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that in those aged 2–8 years, with vomiting and irritability, and with a prolonged last defecation day, an enema was generally administered appropriately.

Keywords

• pediatric
• fecal impaction
• glycerin enema