A comparison between the effect of plums (prunes) and magnesium hydroxide on the constipation of cerebrovascular accident patients: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: A wide range of intensive care patients are constipated. It seems that dried plum is effective in acute constipation. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the effect of dried plums (prunes) with magnesium hydroxide on the constipation management of cerebrovascular accident patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial has been performed on 24 patients with stroke admitted to the intensive care unit, suffering from constipation. In this way, for two days and twice each day by gavage, the interventional and control groups received 50 gr of dried plums in the form of syrup and 30 ml of magnesium hydroxide, respectively. Frequency of bowel movements and stool consistency of patients in both groups were recorded, and the Bristol stool scale was used to describe the stool consistency. Results: The mean and the standard deviation values of bowel movement in intervention and control groups were evaluated 0.281±0.56 and 0.309±0.22, respectively. The frequency stool consistency of normal in intervention group was %72.72 and in control group was %54.54. The comparison between the intervention and control groups demonstrated that there was not a significant variation in frequency of bowel movement and stool consistency. Conclusion: Results showed that plum is effective in increasing the number of bowel movement and stool consistency of stroke patients admitted to the intensive care unit, but no significant difference has been observed comparing with the group received magnesium hydroxide (control group).