RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal symptom with different patterns of dysmotility for which there is not one simple and effective diagnostic method for categorization. The present study assessed the diagnostic method used in patients with chronic constipation and its significance for clinical management. METHODS: The study group comprised 210 consecutive patients with chronic constipation who underwent history, digital anorectal examination (DARE), gastrointestinal transit test (GITT) and anorectal manometry (ARM) to determine the pattern of dysmotility. Symptoms and the examinations were summarized for establishing the diagnostic method and evaluation of the role of the examinations. RESULTS: Outlet obstructive constipation (OOC), slow transit constipation (STC) and mixed constipation (MC) accounted for 50.8%, 10.2% and 39.0% of cases, respectively. The stool was harder in STC or MC than in OOC (P = 0.036). The presence of a paradoxical inverse contraction of anal sphincter when straining to defecate during DARE or ARM was significant for the diagnosis of OOC (P < 0.001). The distribution of the residual markers on abdominal plain film after 48 h GITT was significant for the diagnosis of STC (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of DARE, GITT and ARM was 82.5%, 89.1% and 94.4%, and specificity was 95.2%, 87.9% and 82.6%, respectively. Clinical management was modified in 69.5% of patients after categorizing the constipation pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms, DARE, GITT and ARM are effective methods of evaluating the dysmotility patterns in patients with chronic constipation. DARE and ARM could improve the diagnostic rate of OOC, and GITT assists in diagnosis of STC. Proper categorization of the dysmotility pattern is important for the clinical management of chronic constipation.