title: Colonic motility studies in severe chronic constipation: an organic approach to a functional problem.
abstract: Chronic constipation is one of the more frequent functional gastrointestinal symptoms. The more severe cases not infrequently undergo a major surgical approach. However, there is still a need for a better diagnostic and therapeutic approach, since the results are still unpredictable, probably due to a poor selection of candidates. This article focuses on the current diagnostic approach to chronic constipation, with an emphasis on the possible role of colonic manometry to help better choose those patients that may benefit from surgery.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Medical School, Perugia, Italy. gabassot@tin.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Roberto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sediari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care