Small volume isosmotic polyethylene glycol electrolyte balanced solution (PMF-100) in treatment of chronic nonorganic constipation.

The present multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluates the therapeutic effectiveness of small-volume daily doses of an isosmotic polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte solution in the treatment of chronic nonorganic constipation. After a complete diagnostic investigation, patients still constipated at the end of a four-week placebo-treatment run-in period were enrolled and randomized to receive either placebo or PEG solution 250 ml twice a day for the following eight weeks. Patients were assessed at four and eight weeks of treatment, and they reported frequency and modality of evacuation, use of laxatives, and relevant symptoms daily on a diary card. Oroanal and segmental large-bowel transit times were assessed with radiopaque markers during the fourth week of the run-in period and the last week of the treatment period. During the study period, dietary fiber and liquids were standardized and laxatives were allowed only after five consecutive days without a bowel movement. Of the 55 patients enrolled, five dropped out, three because of adverse events and two for reasons unrelated to therapy; another two were excluded from the efficacy analysis because of protocol violation. Of the remaining 48 patients (37 women, age 42 +/- 15 years, mean +/- SD), 23 were assigned to placebo and 25 to PEG treatment. In comparison to placebo, PEG solution induced a statistically significant increase in weekly bowel frequency at four weeks and at the end of the study (PEG: 4.8 +/- 2.3 vs placebo: 2.8 +/- 1.6; P < 0.002) and a significant decrease in straining at defecation (P < 0.01), stool consistency (P < 0.02), and use of laxatives (P < 0.03). Oroanal, left colon, and rectal transit times were significantly shortened by PEG treatment. There was no difference between controls and PEG-treated patients as far as abdominal symptoms and side effects were concerned. In conclusion, PEG solution at 250 ml twice a day is effective in increasing bowel frequency, accelerating colorectal transit times, and improving difficult evacuation in patients with chronic nonorganic constipation and is devoid of significant side effects.

[The 3rd national workshop on defecography: the functional radiology of (neo) rectal ampullae (ileal reservoir, colo-anal anastomosis, continent perineal colostomy)]. / III workshop nazionale sulla defecografia: la fisioradiologia delle (neo)ampolle rettali (reservoir ileale, colo-ano-anastomosi, colostomia perineale continente).

A survey was made in 13 Italian centers with a questionnaire concerning the (a) indications, (b) postoperative complications, (c) functional results and (d) diagnostic imaging modalities related to the making of an ileal or colonic (neo) rectum. Ulcerative colitis (100%), familial polyposis (61.5%) and Crohn's disease (15.3%) were the most common indications for an ileal pouch; rectal cancer (7.96%), chronic inflammatory diseases (15.3%), diverticulosis, rectal prolapse, redundant colon and imperforate anus (7.6% each) were the most common indications for a colonic pouch. Postoperative complications included pelvic abscess (14%), sinus tract/dehiscence (10%) and bowel obstruction (9%). When compared with the S and W variants, the J-shaped ileoanal pouch proved superior because urgency and fecal retention rates were lower (18.4% vs. 44.4% and 23% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), despite slightly more frequent staining episodes (15.8% vs. 11.1%; p < 0.05). As for colonic ampullae, fecal retention and provoked evacuation were more frequent in the J pouch and after gracileplasty; urgency and incontinence in the straight colo-anal anastomosis (33.3% vs. 22.2% and 41.6% vs. 33.3%, respectively). The functional outcome was assessed by anal endosonography (available in 4/13 centers), defecography and anorectal manometry. Abnormal findings included: (a) reduced capacity, barium leakage, anal gaping, sphincter damage (urgency and incontinence); (b) barium retention, pouch dilatation, split evacuation, knobs and strictures (fecal retention).

[A comparative evaluation of computerized diagnostic decisional support in gastroenterology in relation to typical clinical pictures]. / Valutazione comparativa di un supporto decisionale diagnostico computerizzato in gastroenterologia in rapporto alla tipicità dei quadri clinici.

On the basis of the results obtained in a previous perspective comparative study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a computerized diagnostic decisional support in gastroenterology with that of non-specialist physicians, the Authors have carried out a retrospective study, based on the same series and on the same results, but disaggregating the global comparisons according to the feature of the clinical presentations. The latter were therefore classified by independent gastroenterologists as "typical", "atypical", or "borderline", and for each group the difference of diagnostic accuracy between program and physicians was again evaluated. Even if the program proved more accurate in all groups, the greatest difference was observed in the "borderline" group which the Authors claim to include the kind of presentation which more than any other needs a decisional aid. This should suggest a possible useful implementation of the system in daily clinical practice.

[Gastroduodenal kinetic activity. Possible role of the duodenal bulb in controlling gastric emptying]. / Attività cinetica gastroduodenale. Possibile ruolo del bulbo duodenale nel controllo dello svuotamento gastrico.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gastro-duodenal motility coordination, both during the interdigestive phase and after antroduodenal volumetric stimulus. It has been proved that it is possible to evoke the peristaltic gastric activity by stretching the gastric walls. Thus, the Authors simulated the mechanical conditions of the meal by inflating air into the antrum. They studied 5 healthy volunteers, whose age averaged 43 +/- 22.85 years. A 120 cm probe provided with two balloons at 7 and 21 cm from the distal end, and with 7 open-tips for manometric recording, was positioned by endoscopic way. The Authors were able to evaluate the Motor Antral Threshold (i.e. minimum air volume able to evoke an antral motor reflex), obtained by means of the antral inflatable balloon. The average values of this threshold showed to be 35 +/- 5 ml of air. While keeping the duodenal balloon inflated, the repetition of volumetric antral stimulus did not show any Motor Antral Threshold. This threshold showed up again with similar volumes in every patient after deflating the duodenal balloon. The results obtained suggest the existence of a negative duodenal-antral feed-back control on gastric emptying.

Biofeedback conditioning for fecal incontinence.

Twenty-one subjects suffering daily from fecal incontinence were treated with biofeedback training as a rehabilitative trial. Fifteen of these patients had incontinence following surgical interventions; the other six had senile incontinence. A device was employed to record the pressure existing at the level of the anal canal and to stimulate the rectal ampulla to control the performance of the external anal sphincter and the sensibility of the rectum. Of the 31 treated patients, eighteen (86%) presented good results with satisfactory recovery of anal incontinence, and three subjects (14%) showed unsatisfactory results (more than one episode of incontinence monthly). Although both groups of patients showed improvement in external anal sphincter contraction, the sensibility of the rectum to endoluminal distention improved more in good responders. The employment of biofeedback training to obtain improvement of the threshold of rectal sensibility (minimal volume of endoluminal distention to produce the sensation of imminent defecation and external anal sphincter contraction) has proved useful in the rehabilitation of incontinent patients.

Clinical application of a computerized diagnostic aid in the initial evaluation of 250 outpatients with gastrointestinal complaints.

The results of a prospective controlled study designed to evaluate the performance of a computerized diagnostic aid in the clinical setting are reported herein. Two hundred and fifty patients referred to an outpatient clinic for gastrointestinal complaints were entered into the study. The diagnostic aid program was used routinely and the findings elicited from patients' medical histories and physical examinations were entered into the computer at the time of initial evaluation. The accuracy of the program's diagnoses was measured and compared with the accuracy of diagnoses made by a control group of physicians. The overall diagnostic accuracy of the program was found to be 69.2% (P much less than .0000001), a value significantly greater (P = .0005) than the overall accuracy of the control group of physicians, which was found to be 52%. A high agreement rate between program and physicians was also observed. These preliminary results seem to indicate a practical use for the program as a support in the initial screening of patients presenting with gastrointestinal complaints.

Biofeedback training to obtain continence in permanent colostomy. Experience of two centers.

Biofeedback training is proposed as rehabilitative training for patients with permanent colostomies to help them achieve fecal continence. The results of a preliminary study of 18 patients are reported.

Colon motility and colo-anal reflexes in chronic idiopathic constipation. Effects of a novel enterokinetic agent cisapride.

Motor activity of the colon and reflex behaviour of the anal sphincters in normal subjects and in patients with idiopathic constipation were studied using a novel probe with 5 open-end tips to measure pressures, and 3 balloons for stimulation of the distal colon. Constipation appeared to be associated with an increased threshold of the inhibitory relaxation reflex of the internal anal sphincter (41.7 in normals and 65.7 in patients), and in particular with a blunted sensation of the defaecation urge (51.0 in normals and 112.8 in patients). Single-blind comparison with a placebo showed that cisapride, a new gastrointestinal prokinetic substance, had a significant effect on the sensation threshold, which normalized or improved in 15 out of the 16 patients studied.