S3150 A Drug-Free, Safe, and Effective Alternative for Providing Relief for Chronic Constipation Using High-Volume Colonic Water Irrigation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chronic Constipation (CC) is a global health problem associated with considerable morbidity and a significant financial burden. Among outpatient clinic visits, CC is one of the top five most common physician diagnoses for gastrointestinal disorders, accounting for almost eight million ambulatory visits a year. It seems that a prescription-based high-volume colonic water irrigation can provide an alternative for patients suffering from CC. METHODS: Between May 2017 and December 2019, 1,038 consecutive procedures of high-volume water irrigation for constipation relief, prescribed by 82 physicians, were performed on 615 patients. The water irrigation system used was FDA-cleared, and all procedures were performed under stringent standard operating procedures (SOP) by nurses and technicians trained by the managing operator at four independent locations referred by physicians from AG, Austin, TX; GIA, Jackson, MS; OGI, Cincinnati, OH; and GLST, Norfolk, VA. Analysis was focused on demographic and medical history for initial as well as repeat patients of the constipation relief procedure. Clinical success was defined as patient-reported satisfaction. Data was collected by providing the patients with a multiple choice and free-text post-procedure survey. Adverse events were recorded by the technical team using a standardized process. RESULTS: Over 2.5 years, 615 patients underwent 1,038 constipation relief procedures with 100% clinical success and no serious adverse events. The age range was 18-99, with the mean age 57 ± 17, 79% females and 21% males. Of the 615 patients, 77% (472 patients) had one procedure, and 23% underwent multiple procedures. Both the number of overall patients and the percentage of repeating patients increased steadily over time. Patients’ satisfaction surveys at the four independent locations revealed that 99.7% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied. CONCLUSION: This prescription-based, FDA-cleared high-volume water irrigation for constipation relief has been shown in 1,038 procedures to be safe and effective, with no serious adverse events. The post-procedure surveys reveal high patient satisfaction and willingness to repeat. High-volume colonic water irrigation, performed under stringent SOPs, should be considered as a primary medical alternative for patients suffering from CC.