Mehmet Abdussamet Bozkurt, Mustafa Uygar Kalaycı, Eyüp Gemici, Ece Dilege, Halil Alış

Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Genel Cerrahi, İstanbul, Türkiye

Abstract

Introduction: Constipation is a common symptom in surgery and determining the etiology of constipation is important for the success of treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the value of colonic transit-time measurement in revealing the etiology of constipation.

Materials and Methods: Hundred and thirty patients who were diagnosed with constipation according to Rome III criteria were included in this study and the colonic transit-time of all patients was measured.

Results: 13 of 130 patients had prolonged colonic transit time. Markers accumulated in the rectosigmoid region in 9 patients, in the right colon in 2 patients and in the left colon in 2 patients.

Conclusion: Colonic transit-time measurement is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of chronic constipation; however it gives limited information about the etiology.

Keywords: Constipation, colonic transit time, Rome III criteria