Colonic total and segmental transit times in healthy Italian adults.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to determine colonic transit times in healthy Italian adults.


METHODS
Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained. Colonic segmental radiopaque markers were counted and transit times calculated in 36 healthy subjects studied using a technique involving daily radiopaque marker ingestion and single radiological visit, with oral administration of 8-10 ml of a thick barium paste as a colonic trace for the marker count. Two independent radiologists counted the marker twice. Observer agreement was assessed using comparison analysis.


RESULTS
There was very good observer agreement for the segmental marker counts. The upper limit for colonic transit times was: 45.6 h in the colon as a whole, 31.2 h in the right colon, 19.2 h in the left colon and 16.8 h in the rectosigmoid. Colonic transit times were not gender-related.


CONCLUSIONS
In healthy subjects, a barium trace affords optimal visibility of the different colonic segments, enabling accurate location of all markers and thus providing an anatomy-related, repeatable and reproducible fluoroscopic segmental marker count. We suggest that the reference values for normal colonic transit times could be adopted for Italian people irrespective of gender.
Pomerri
F
F
Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, Padua, Italy. fabio.pomerri@unipd.it
Dodi
G
G
Nardin
M
M
Muzzio
P C
PC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate