title: [Intestinal constipation in patients with intracranial tumors].
abstract: The effort that occurs during the Valsalva maneuver provokes a raise in intracranial pressure and may decompensate patients with increased intracranial pressure. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of intestinal constipation in the preoperative period of patients with intracranial tumors and establish a relationship between constipation and intracranial pressure decompensation. This study was performed at the neurosurgery unit of Hospital São Paulo, from August to October 2003, evaluating 37 patients. Preoperative time varied from 2 to 34 days (mean 12 days). During this period, 6 (16.2%) patients underwent constipation; all of them received dietary fiber and lactulose, 2 (33.3%) needed enema administration. All patients performed the Valsalva maneuver during defecation and none of them developed intracranial hypertension decompensation.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Analuiza Cândido
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diccini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics