Abstract :
Objective: To identify the prevalence of physiologic causes of idiopathic constipation in Thai patients.
Patients and Methods: We investigated 103 consecutive Thai patients (29M, 74F, age 50 +/- 20) with
chronic idiopathic constipation (symptom duration; median 5yr, range 0.25-45 yr) as defined by Rome II criteria using colonic transit test, anorectal manometry, and balloon expulsion tests. Constipation symptoms were evaluated by a questionnaire.
Results: There were 30, 14, 11, and 48 patients fulfil the criteria of anorectal dysfunction, colonic iner-
tia, anorectal dysfunction plus colonic inertia, and normal transit constipation, respectively. The proportion of
female gender in normal transit constipation group (F:M = 37:11) was significantly greater than anorectal dysfunction group (16:14, p <0.05%). Patients with colonic inertia and colonic inertia plus anorectal dysfunction had higher prevalence of infrequent bowel movements (82% and 100%, respectively) compared to anorectal dysfunction and normal transit constipation (39% and 50%, respectively, p <0.01). The prevalence of straining, hard stool, incomplete evacuation, sense of anal obstruction, and use of manual maneuver to facilitate defecation, were not different among constipation subgroups (p >0.05).
Conclusions: Prevalence of pathophysiologic conditions associated with idiopathic constipation in Thai
patients are similar to western countries. Twenty-nine per cent, 13%, and 11% of Thai patients with idiopathic constipation were associated with anorectal dysfunction, colonic inertia, and anorectal dysfunction plus colonic inertia, respectively.
[Thai J Gastroenterol 2005; 6(1): 8-14] |
file/Thai-Journal-of-gastroenterology-vol-6-no-1-2764400.pdf