GALL BLADDERMOTILITY IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION.

Abstract

Introduction: Evidences have been accumulated that impaired colonic motility in some patients with functional constipation is part of a generalized motility defect. The aim of this study was to investigate gall bladder motility in children with functional constipation. Methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients with chronic functional constipation referred to a pediatric tertiary outpatient clinic and the same number of controls were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Using real-time ultrasonography and the ellipsoid method, gall bladder volumes were measured: after overnight fast and 60 minutes after the ingestion of a standard fatty meal. Residual volumes and contractility indexes were calculated. Results: Considering values ≥25% as normal values for contractility index, the frequency of abnormal values was superior in constipated children (p < 0.001). Gall bladder dismotility was observed in 21 of 82 (25.6%) patients and in 14 of 82 (17%) age and gender matched controls. Contractility indexes distributions were different between groups, with superior values found in controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Contractility indexes for gall bladder emptying in constipated children were different from indexes in healthy children.