Normal colonic transit time predicts the outcome of colonic manometry in patients with chronic constipation-an exploratory study

Lisa Vork, Mark H. P. van Avesaat, Eduard A. van Hoboken, Joanna W. Kruimel, Jose M. Conchillo, Daniel Keszthelyi*, Ad A. M. Masclee

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose Colonic manometry (CM) can be of additive value in the diagnostic workup of colonic motility in chronic constipated patients. However, it is claimed that colonic motor disturbances occur in normal-transit constipation (NTC) and slow-transit (STC) constipation, as measured using a radio-opaque marker study, and therefore, the relationship between colonic motor disturbances on CM and colonic transit time (CTT) remains unclear. Our aim was to compare results from colonic marker study with the outcome of CM in patients with treatment-refractory chronic constipation (CC). Method Eighty-seven CC patients and 12 healthy volunteers, undergoing both a CTT study and a 24-h CM in a Dutch tertiary referral center, were included. CTT was measured using radio-opaque markers (X-ray at day 4 after ingestion of 20 markers at day 0). CM was performed using a catheter with 6 solid-state pressure sensors, endoscopically clipped to the mucosa in the right colon. CM was defined as normal when at least three high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs), i.e., propagating waves with amplitude >= 80 mmHg over at least three sensors, were identified. Results In total, 70 patients showed STC on CTT, of which 21 (30%) showed normal CM. All 17 NTC patients and healthy volunteers showed normal CM. The negative predictive value of CTT for normal CM was 100%. Conclusion Colonic manometry should be considered in therapy-refractory STC patients in order to further delineate colonic motility. However, in this exploratory study, for patients presenting with NTC on a radio-opaque marker study, colonic manometry does not appear to have added value.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1819-1822
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of Colorectal Disease
Volume34
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019

Keywords

  • Chronic constipation
  • Colonic manometry
  • Colonic transit time

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