title: Colonic motor activity in slow-transit idiopathic constipation as identified by 24-h pancolonic ambulatory manometry.
abstract: Colorectal motor activity in slow-transit idiopathic constipation has not been fully evaluated under physiological conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate colorectal motor activity in chronic idiopathic constipation using 24-h ambulant pancolonic manometry. Ten healthy volunteers (six females) 19-31 years of age, and eight females 25-46 years of age with slow-transit idiopathic constipation were studied. Motor activity was measured using two custom-made silicone-coated catheters, each with five solid-state pressure transducers. Bowel preparation or sedation was not used. Frequency of high-amplitude propagated contractions was reduced in chronic idiopathic constipation, median 1.9/24 h vs 6/24 h (P = 0.01). Contractile frequency of low-amplitude complexes was reduced throughout the colon in slow-transit idiopathic constipation (P < 0.0001). The interval between contractile complexes was reduced in the transverse colon and splenic flexure (P < 0.0001). This study demonstrates that colonic motor activity is abnormal in slow-transit idiopathic constipation; decreased motor activity leads to a reduction in propulsion of intraluminal contents.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric