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
References
1Drossman DA, Sandler RS, McKee DC, et al. Bowel patterns among subjects not seeking health care. Use of a questionnaire to identify a population with bowel dysfunction. Gastroenterology 1982; 83:529–534.
2Talley NJ. Differentiating functional constipation from constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: management implications. Rev Gastroenterol Disord 2005; 5:1–9.
3Ghoshal UC. Review of pathogenesis and management of constipation. Trop Gastroenterol 2007; 28:91–95.
4Mollen RMHG, Claassen ATPM, Kuijpers JHC. Colon transit-time measurement useful in the evaluation of functional constipation. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1998; 142:357–361.
5Ghoshal UC. Review of pathogenesis and management of constipation. Trop Gastroenterol 2007; 28:91–95.
6Rao SS. Constipation: evaluation and treatment of colonic and anorectal motility disorders. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2009; 19:117–139. doi:10.1016/j. giec.2008.12.006
7Sarli L, Costi R, Sarli D, et al. Pilot study of subtotal colectomy with antiperistaltic cecoproctostomy for the treatment of chronic slow-transit-constipation. Dis Colon Rectum 2001; 44:1514–1520. doi:10.1007/BF02234608
8B³achut K, Bednarz W, Paradowski L. Surgical treatment of constipation. Rocz Akad Med Bialymst 2004; 49:47–52.
9Buhmann S, Kirchhoff C, Ladurner R, et al. Assessment of colonic transittime using MRI: a feasibility study. Eur Radiol 2007; 17:669–674. doi:10.1007/ s00330-006-0414-z
10Endo H, Matsuhashi N, Inamori M, et al. Abdominal surgery affects small bowel transit-time and completeness of capsule endoscopy. Dig Dis Sci 2009; 54:1066–1070. doi:10.1007/s10620-008-0467-8
11Öncü K, Özel AM, Demirtürk L, et al. Determination of the frequency of dyssynergic defecation and patient characteristics in patients with functional constipation. Turkish J Gastroenterol 21:372-380.
12Ansari R, Sohrabi MR, Roohi S, et al. Colonic transit-time in 64 Iranian patients with idiopathic chronic constipation. Arch Iran Med 2001; 4:5–9.
