Abstract
Introduction: Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms which could affect patients’ quality of life. The colonic transit time test could be used for determining functional constipation subtypes. The aim of our study was to determine the abnormalities of the subtypes of functional constipation using CTT. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 85 patients in 2011 in Shariaaty Hospital, Isfahan. All the patients received 60 radio-opaque markers, and they underwent radiological evaluation 5 days afterwards. Functional constipation was determined according to the distribution of the markers in the colon. Result: The samples consisted of 24 males and 61 females at a mean age of 42.7 ± 16.28 years. The colonic transit time results showed that 71 patients had normal transit time, 6 had a composite type, 5 had slow transit, and 3 had pelvic delay. There was no significant difference between sex and colon transit time types (P value =0.32). The mean colon transit time in our study was 51.8 ± 16.3 hours. Conclusion: Functional constipation patients should undergo CTT, especially those who use maneuvers for defecation and those who need more time for defecation.[GMJ. 2012;1(2):48-52]
Highlights
Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms which could affect patients’ quality of life
The CTT results showed that 71 patients had a normal transit time (19 males and 52 females), 6 (3 males) had a composite type, 5 (1 male and 4 females) had a slow transit time, and 3 (1 male and 2 females) had pelvic delay
The ANOVA test showed that there was a statistical difference between the groups (P value =0.01) The mean time that the patients needed for defecation was 12.7 ± 8.73 minutes in the patients with a normal CTT, 20.23 ± 11.06 minutes in the composite group, 15.12 ± 7.53 minutes in the slow transit group, and 18.33 ± 10.87 minutes in the pelvic delay group, with the ANOVA test revealing a statistically significant difference between the groups (P value =0.008) Twelve subjects in the normal CTT group, 3 in the composite group, 2 in the slow transit group, and one in the pelvic delay group used maneuvers for defecation
Summary
Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms which could affect patients’ quality of life. According to the ROME III diagnostic criteria, patients must meet a minimum two of these sign and symptoms: A) straining during at least 25% of defecations; B) lumpy or hard stool at least 25% of defecations; C) sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage at least 25% of defecations; and D) manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support of the pelvic floor) or patients with fewer than 3 defecations per week. The colonic transit time test (CTT) is a radiological test for determining functional constipation subtypes. Little information is available about the subtypes of idiopathic constipation in Iran
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