Abstract
Background/Aim
Functional constipation (FC) and constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) are two main subtypes of constipation. Using radio-opaque markers is an easy and cost effective method to measure colonic transit time (CTT). We designed this study to compare the CTT between these two groups of constipated patients.
Methods
Patients with chronic constipation of no organic etiology were classified as having FC or C-IBS according to the Rome II criteria. All patients ingested 10 radio opaque markers daily for six days. A plain abdominal X-ray was taken on the seventh day. To calculate the total and segmental colonic transit time in hours, number of markers in right and left colonic and rectosigmoid area were counted and multiplied by 2.4. The mean total and segmental colonic transit time were compared between the two groups.
Results
A total of 100 patients (50 FC and 50 C-IBS) were enrolled. The mean (SD) total CTT was not significantly different between FC patients (52.2 [35.5] h) and C-IBS patients (41.2 [31.6] h; p = 0.10). The mean rectosigmoid transit time was significantly slower in FC patients (19.9 [15.5] h) compared to C-IBS patients (11.9 [10.6] h; p = 0.003).
Conclusion
Rectosigmoid transit time in FC patients is slower than in C-IBS patients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Drossman DA, Sandler RS, McKee DC, Lovitz AJ. Bowel patterns among subjects not seeking health care. Use of a questionnaire to identify a population with bowel dysfunction. Gastroenterology 1982;83:529–534.
Talley NJ. Differentiating functional constipation from constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: Management implications. Rev Gastroenterol Disord 2005;5:1–9.
Ghoshal UC. Review of pathogenesis and management of constipation. Trop Gastroenterol 2007;28:91–95.
Ghoshal UC, Gupta D, Kumar A, Misra A. Colonic transit study by radio-opaque markers to investigate constipation: Validation of a new protocol for a population with rapid gut transit. Natl Med J India 2007;20:225–229.
Prokesch RW, Breitenseher MJ, Kettenbach J, et al. Assessment of chronic constipation: Colon transit time versus defecography. Eur J Radiol 1999;32:197–203.
Mollen RMHG, Claassen ATPM, Kuijpers JHC. Colon transit time measurement useful in the evaluation of functional constipation. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1998;142:357–361.
Bouchoucha M, Thomas SR. Error analysis of classic colonic transit time estimates. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2000;279:342–343.
Abrahamsson H, Antov S, Bosaeus I. Gastrointestinal and colonic segmental transit time evaluated by a single abdominal X-ray in healthy subjects and constipated patients. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl 1988;152:72–80.
Ansari 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.
Prather CM. Subtypes of constipation: Sorting out the confusion. Rev Gastroenterol Disord 2004;4(Suppl 2):S11–S16.
Evans JM, Fleming KC, Talley NJ, Schleck CD, Zinsmeister AR, Melton III LJ. Relation of colonic transit to functional bowel disease in older people: A population-based study. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998;46:83–87.
Zhan LX, Zhou DW, Xu GM, Li ZS, Yin N, Zhang MQ. Study on functional constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by using the colonic transit test and anorectal manometry. Chin J Dig Dis 2002;3:128–131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ansari, R., Sohrabi, S., Ghanaie, O. et al. Comparison of colonic transit time between patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation. Indian J Gastroenterol 29, 66–68 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-010-0015-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-010-0015-2