special subjects
Symptom Relief for the Dying Patient
Constipation
 started at 15 to 30 mL orally 2 times a day and titrated to effect. However, there are a wide variety of appropriate laxatives with none that has proven superior in this clinical situation ( Reference ). Soft fecal impaction may be treated with abisacodylsuppository or saline enema. For a hard fecal impaction, amineral oilenema may be given, possibly with an oral benzodiazepine (eg,lorazepam) or an analgesic, followed by digital disimpaction. After disimpaction, patients should be placed on a more aggressive bowel regimen to avoid recurrence. 