AzTrials
AzTrials

ConstipationPhase 4NCT04263896

Bowel Function After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

A Phase 4 study testing Polyethylene Glycol 3350 in people with Constipation, run by University of Chicago at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Postoperative constipation affects up to a third of women undergoing minimally invasive (MIS) gynecologic surgery and is a major source of anxiety and discomfort. The average time to first bowel movement after gynecologic surgery is about 2 to 4 days and some factors responsible for this include anesthesia inhibitory… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Constipation
What is being tested?
Polyethylene Glycol 3350
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
97 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
28 Aug 2019to 9 Jun 2025
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Any woman ≥ 18 years of age undergoing a minimally invasive hysterectomy (Laparoscopic, robotic, vaginal)
  • Able to understand the consenting process and willing to participate in study

Who cannot join

  • Planned laparotomy
  • Emergent surgery
  • Regular preoperative use of PEG 3350, laxatives, enemas or suppositories
  • Planned bowel surgery
  • Presence of colostomy
  • Inability to consent
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Medical problems as follows:
  • Chronic Kidney Disease (Cr: > 1.2 mg/dL)
  • Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
  • Cardiac disease
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Difficulty swallowing or esophageal stricture
  • Persistent nausea or vomiting
  • Signs or symptoms of a small bowel obstruction

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Chicago Medicine

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Bowel Function After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Postoperative constipation affects up to a third of women undergoing minimally invasive (MIS) gynecologic surgery and is a major source of anxiety and discomfort. The average time to first bowel movement after gynecologic surgery is about 2 to 4 days and some factors responsible for this include anesthesia inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal motility, opioid pain medication use, chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use and anatomic manipulation.

There are no established regimens to manage postoperative constipation after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Two studies evaluating the implementation of postoperative bowel regimen with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and with Senna and Docusate found no significant impact on postoperative bowel function. There have been no studies looking at the effect of preoperative bowel regimens on postoperative bowel function.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate postoperative bowel function after minimally invasive hysterectomy in women receiving a preoperative 10-day bowel regimen of PEG daily.

Read the detailed description

Following enrollment subjects will be randomized into the intervention/treatment arm and control arm. All subjects will be asked to complete a baseline demographic form and three questionnaires (Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC- QOL), Wexner Constipation score). Additional demographic information will be obtained from chart review. This information will include past medical history, use of constipating medications, use of daily pain medications, chronic pain history, use of daily fiber supplementation.

Subjects in the intervention arm will be given 10-day supply of Miralax and instructed on its use. They will take this medication for the 10 days prior to surgery. Subjects in the control arm will continue with standard care prior to surgery.

Post operatively, all subjects will complete a diary for 7 days. In this diary they will record details about their bowel movements (time of movement, discomfort, texture of stool). They will also report average daily pain levels ( with a visual analog scale), daily pain medication use (time, medication, total number of pills).

At the end of the 7th day all subjects will complete the same PAC questionnaires as they did pre-operatively.

Conditions
Constipation
Being tested
Polyethylene Glycol 3350
Medical subject headings
Constipation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Polyethylene Glycol 3350Drug

    Also called Miralax

    Participants will take 1 17g pack per day for 10 days preceding surgery.

Study groups in NCT04263896
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Participants receiving pre-operative laxativeExperimentalParticipants will receive 10 doses, 17g each, of polyethylene glycol 3350. They will be instructed to take 1 dose/packet each day for 10 days leading up to their surgery.
Receives: Drug: Polyethylene Glycol 3350
Participants not receiving pre-operative laxativeNo interventionParticipants will not be given any laxatives.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms Questionnaire (PAC-SYM) Score

    Constipation will be evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively using a validated questionnaires (PAC-SYM/PAC-QOL). Patient assessment of constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM) - The Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, developed through psychometric evaluation of adults with chronic constipation, is a tool for assessing the severity of patient-reported symptoms of this disorder. The 12-item questionnaire is divided into three symptom subscales: abdominal (four items); rectal (three items); and stool (five items). Items are scored on 5-point Likert scales, with scores ranging from 0 to 4 (0 = 'symptom absent', 1 = 'mild', 2 = 'moderate', 3 = 'severe' and 4 = 'very severe'). A mean total score in the range of 0-4 is generated by dividing the total score by the number of questions completed; the lower the total score, the lower the symptom burden.

    Measured: change in score from 10 days pre-operation to 7 days post-operation

  2. Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL) Score

    Patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL) - PAC-Qol is a self-reported questionnaire, was used to measure the quality of life of patients.9 The validated PAC-QoL is composed of 28 items grouped into four subscales: physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worries and concerns, and satisfaction. The first three subscales are used to assess the patient dissatisfaction index, with an overall score ranging from 0 to 96 (where lower scores correspond to better quality of life). The satisfaction subscale includes four items with a global score ranging from 0 to 16, so that each patient's self-reported definitive outcome is defined as either poor (0-4), fairly good (5-8), good (9-12), or excellent (13-16).

    Measured: change in score from 10 days pre-operation to 7 days post-operation

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Visual Analog Scale for Pain Management

    Visual analog scale - The visual analog scale (VAS) is a measure of subjective pain intensity. It is a continuous scale comprised of a horizontal visual analog scale that is 100 mm in length. The subject will place a mark on the scale to indicate the intensity of her pain. 0 mm would be no pain, 100 mm would be the greatest imaginable pain. Any mark in between will be measured in mm to indicate degree of pain the subject is experiencing.

    Measured: The 7 days after surgery (surgery is D0)

  2. Pain Medication Consumption Tracking by Participant

    Dosages of pain medication consumption will be collected for up to 7 days post-surgery.

    Measured: The 7 days after surgery (surgery is D0)

  3. Wexner/ Constipation Scoring System/1996 Cleveland Clinic Score / Agachan Score

    Wexner a commonly used scoring system, is designed to assess the prevalence and severity of constipation. It is based on pathophysiological definition of constipation. The scoring system is based on eight variables (frequency of bowel movements; difficult or painful evacuation; completeness of evacuation; abdominal pain; time per attempt; type of assistance including laxatives; digitations or enemas; number of unsuccessful attempts at evacuation in a 24-h period and duration of constipation). The CSS consists of seven items that are scored using a five-point Likert scale that ranges from 0 (none of the time) to 4 (all of the time) and one item that is rated on a 0-2 scale. A total score can range from 0 (normal) to 30 (severe constipation). A cutoff score of 15 suggests constipation.

    Measured: 7 days before surgery

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Feb 2020
  2. Study start28 Aug 2019
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2024
  4. Study completion9 Jun 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Following enrollment subjects will be randomized into the intervention/treatment arm and control arm through a randomizing process in the investigator's database.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
97 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04263896
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB19-0436
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
29 Aug 2019
Last updated
19 Aug 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Patel M, Schimpf MO, O'Sullivan DM, LaSala CA. The use of senna with docusate for postoperative constipation after pelvic reconstructive surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 May;202(5):479.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.01.003. Epub 2010 Mar 6.

    PubMed 20207340
  • Edenfield AL, Siddiqui NY, Wu JM, Dieter AA, Garrett MA, Visco AG. Polyethylene Glycol 3350 and Docusate Sodium Compared With Docusate Sodium Alone After Urogynecologic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Sep;128(3):543-9. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001565.

    PubMed 27500338
  • Clarke A, Black N, Rowe P, Mott S, Howle K. Indications for and outcome of total abdominal hysterectomy for benign disease: a prospective cohort study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1995 Aug;102(8):611-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb11398.x.

    PubMed 7654638
  • Mythen MG. Postoperative gastrointestinal tract dysfunction: an overview of causes and management strategies. Cleve Clin J Med. 2009 Nov;76 Suppl 4:S66-71. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.76.s4.11.

    PubMed 19880839
  • Pappagallo M. Incidence, prevalence, and management of opioid bowel dysfunction. Am J Surg. 2001 Nov;182(5A Suppl):11S-18S. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(01)00782-6.

    PubMed 11755892
  • Iwanoff C, Giannopoulos M, Salamon C. Follow-up postoperative calls to reduce common postoperative complaints among urogynecology patients. Int Urogynecol J. 2019 Oct;30(10):1667-1672. doi: 10.1007/s00192-018-3809-x. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

    PubMed 30413866
  • Caljouw MA, Hogendorf-Burgers ME. GYNOTEL: telephone advice to gynaecological surgical patients after discharge. J Clin Nurs. 2010 Dec;19(23-24):3301-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03395.x. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

    PubMed 20946445
  • Spence-Jones C, Kamm MA, Henry MM, Hudson CN. Bowel dysfunction: a pathogenic factor in uterovaginal prolapse and urinary stress incontinence. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994 Feb;101(2):147-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1994.tb13081.x.

    PubMed 8305390
  • Arya LA, Novi JM, Shaunik A, Morgan MA, Bradley CS. Pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, and dietary fiber intake in women: a case-control study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 May;192(5):1687-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.11.032.

    PubMed 15902178
  • Ramirez PT, Klemer DP. Vaginal evisceration after hysterectomy: a literature review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2002 Jul;57(7):462-7. doi: 10.1097/00006254-200207000-00023.

    PubMed 12172223
  • Hur HC, Lightfoot M, McMillin MG, Kho KA. Vaginal cuff dehiscence and evisceration: a review of the literature. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Aug;28(4):297-303. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000000294.

    PubMed 27310715
  • McNanley A, Perevich M, Glantz C, Duecy EE, Flynn MK, Buchsbaum G. Bowel function after minimally invasive urogynecologic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2012 Mar-Apr;18(2):82-5. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0b013e3182455529.

    PubMed 22453316
  • Marciniak CM, Toledo S, Lee J, Jesselson M, Bateman J, Grover B, Tierny J. Lubiprostone vs Senna in postoperative orthopedic surgery patients with opioid-induced constipation: a double-blind, active-comparator trial. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Nov 21;20(43):16323-33. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i43.16323.

    PubMed 25473191
  • Iyigun E, Ayhan H, Demircapar A, Tastan S. Impact of preoperative defecation pattern on postoperative constipation for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Clin Nurs. 2017 Feb;26(3-4):495-501. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13473. Epub 2016 Aug 15.

    PubMed 27404560
  • Dipalma JA, Cleveland MV, McGowan J, Herrera JL. A randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial of polyethylene glycol laxative for chronic treatment of chronic constipation. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jul;102(7):1436-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01199.x. Epub 2007 Mar 31.

    PubMed 17403074

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Polyethylene Glycol 3350 in people with Constipation, run by University of Chicago at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 19 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms Questionnaire (PAC-SYM) Score (time frame: change in score from 10 days pre-operation to 7 days post-operation). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04263896, which also lists 17 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2025.

Free account

Keep searching with a free account

You’ve used your 3 free searches for this session. Log in or create a free AzTrials account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in