Is constipation a disorder of defecation or impaired motility?: distinction based on defecography and colonic transit studies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether constipation is a disorder of defecation or of impaired motility by using defecography and transit studies.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients (34 women, one man) with severe constipation underwent defecography and colonic transit studies in a 2-month period. Transit studies included the use of orally administered radiopaque markers and plain abdominal radiographs obtained up to 4 days later. Fluoroscopically guided defecography was performed with barium paste introduced into the rectum.


RESULTS
Normal colonic transit time was observed in seven (20%) of the 35 patients. Abnormal findings included colonic inertia in six (17%) patients, hindgut dysfunction in 10 (29%) patients, and outlet obstruction in 12 (34%) patients. Rectocele, enterocele, descending perineum syndrome, and dyskinetic puborectalis were found equally in both groups of patients. Rectal prolapse was more commonly found in patients with hindgut dysfunction and outlet obstruction (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical or medical management of severely constipated patients relies on objectively identifying the underlying pathophysiology. Our findings suggest that constipation is often a disorder of defecation rather than an impairment of colonic motility.
Karasick
S
S
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Ehrlich
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003248:Constipation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies