Efeito do tratamento convencional da constipação crônica funcional no tempo de trânsito orocecal e colônico total e segmentar / Effects of conventional treatment of chronic functional constipation on total and segmental colonic and orocecal transit times

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do tratamento convencional da constipação crônica funcional no tempo de trânsito colônico total e segmentar e no tempo de trânsito orocecal. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 34 pacientes com constipação funcional atendidos consecutivamente em ambulatório especializado. O tempo de trânsito colônico total e segmentar foi avaliado com marcadores radiopacos. O tempo de trânsito orocecal da lactulose e do feijão foi avaliado com teste do hidrogênio no ar expirado. O tratamento constou de desimpactação, orientações gerais e de consumo de dieta rica em fibra alimentar e administração de óleo mineral. RESULTADOS: Na admissão, dismotilidade colônica foi encontrada em 71,9 por cento (23/32) dos pacientes. Todos os pacientes que realizaram corretamente o tratamento apresentaram melhora clínica na sexta semana do tratamento quando 82,6 por cento (19/23) daqueles com dismotilidade na admissão apresentaram normalização ou diminuição da gravidade no padrão de trânsito colônico. Observou-se redução do tempo de trânsito (medianas) entre a admissão e a oitava semana de tratamento: trânsito orocecal da lactulose (de 70 para 50 minutos, p = 0,002), orocecal do feijão (de 240 para 220 minutos, p = 0,002) e colônico total (de 69,5 para 37,0 horas, p = 0,001). A necessidade de uso de óleo mineral para controle da constipação aos 12 meses de tratamento associou-se com persistência de trânsito colônico total superior a 62 horas na oitava semana de tratamento (p = 0,014). CONCLUSÃO: O programa terapêutico convencional proporcionou bons resultados independentemente da presença ou não de dismotilidade colônica na admissão ao estudo. As anormalidades da motilidade digestiva na constipação funcional da criança podem apresentar reversibilidade e ser de natureza secundária.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of conventional treatment of chronic functional constipation on total and segmental colonic transit times and on orocecal transit time. METHODS: A total of 34 consecutive patients with functional constipation attending a specialized outpatient clinic were included in the study. Total and segmental colonic transit times were assessed using radiopaque markers. Hydrogen breath test was used to evaluate lactulose and bean orocecal transit times. Treatment consisted of disimpaction, general and dietary fiber intake instruction, and mineral oil administration. RESULTS: At admission, colonic dysmotility was found in 71.9 percent (23/32) of patients. All patients who complied with the treatment showed improvement of clinical symptoms after 6 weeks of treatment, when 82.6 percent (19/23) of those with dysmotility at admission returned to normal or reduced the severity of colonic transit patterns. Transit time decreased (medians) between admission and eighth week of treatment: lactulose orocecal transit (from 70 to 50 minutes, p = 0.002), bean orocecal transit (from 240 to 220 minutes, p = 0.002), and total colonic transit (from 69.5 to 37.0 hours, p = 0.001). The need for mineral oil therapy for constipation after a 12-month treatment was associated with persistence of total colonic transit higher than 62 hours at the eighth week of treatment (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The conventional therapeutic approach yielded good results regardless of the presence or not of colonic dysmotility at inclusion in the study. Digestive tract motility abnormalities in functionally constipated children may be reversed, and may be secondary to constipation.

Revisión crítica de los métodos utilizados en el estudio del tránsito colónico / Colonic transit assesment: a chritical review

Functional constipation is a disorders frequently observed in clinical practice. In the management of a group of patients who do not respond to established medical treatment, is important to investigate colonic transit A critical review of the main technical approach for colonic transit estimation is presented. Two main methods are actually availables: isotopic markers, and radiological techniques with radiopaque markers, the last one being the most extensively used. The most basic technique consist in a single administration of markers and a plain abdominal Rx. Information about percentage of markers observed five days after ingestion (normal 20%) and distribution, provide important information: diffuse overall the colon (slow transit constipation) or localized distally (outlet obstruction).Using repeated doses of markers and one or more Rx, colonic transit time segmental or total can be established. This information may be useful in the assessment of certain pathological conditions, pharmacological effects and diets.

La constipación funcional es una manifestación clínica frecuente. En algunos pacientes que no responden a las. medidas terapéuticas habituales, es necesario para su manejo contar con una evaluación del tránsito colónico. Revisamos en forma crítica en esta presentación las principales técnicas utilizadas en la actualidad con este fin. Existen principalmente dos métodos: el uso de marcadores isotópicos y técnicas radio lógicas con marcadores radiopacos, esta última es la más ampliamente utilizada. La técnica con marcadores radiopacos más simple consiste en utilizar una dosis de marcadores y una radiografía, informa sobre el porcentaje de retención de marcadores (normal 20% a los 5 días) y su distribución: difusa (constipación por tránsito lento), localizada distalmente, que sugiere un trastorno del tracto de salida. Usando dosis repetidas de marcadores y una o más radiografías, se puede establecer el tiempo de tránsito para los diferentes segmentos del colon y total, lo que puede ser de utilidad en la evaluación de determinadas condiciones patológicas, fármacos y dietas.

¿Existe en la constipación idiopática severa un trastorno difuso de la motilidad intestinal? / Disturbances of small intestinal motility in patients with chronic constipation

Background: Studies in patients with chronic severe constipation, suggest the presence of a diffuse motor disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Aim: To investigate small bowel motor activity in a group of patients with severe constipation. Material and Methods: Forty three patients (age range 13 to 70 years, 40 women) with severe constipation referred to our motility laboratory, where studied. Ten had a previous colectomy. Radiological examinations showed a megacolon in 30 and dilatation of small intestinal loops in nine; the remaining X rays studies were normal. Small intestinal motility was studied using perfused catheters and external transducers. Results: Ten patients had normal motor recordings. Eight patients showed a neuropathic disorder characterized by a continuous irregular pattern of contractions of normal amplitude, with absence of phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC). Sixteen presented a normal MMC associated to a decreased amplitude of contractions (Miopatic disorder). Nine showed both types of motor disorders (Mixed pattern). Normal radiological findings were more commonly associated to normal manometric recordings. By contrast, an altered motor activity, mainly of myopathic and mixed type motor disorder, was observed in all patients with dilated small intestinal and colonic loops. Conclusions: The presence of small intestinal motor disorders was a frequent finding in this selected group of patients with chronic constipation.

Manometría anorectal en niños con constipación funcional crónica y endopresis / Anorectal manometry in children with chronic functional constipatión and encopresis

Se estudiaron 80 niños, 41 con constipación funcional crónica y 39 con encopresis que acudieron al servicio de Gastroenterología del Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP) durante el período comprendido de enero de 1993 a enero de 1994. A todos ellos se les efectuó estudio de motilidad anorectal mediante la técnica de Schuster de triple balón. La presión basal de reposo del esfincter interno en los niños constipados fue de 47.15 mm Hg. mientras que en los encopréticos fue de 59.56 mm Hg (P<0.0008). El reflejo recto anal inhibitorio estuvo presente en los 80 pacientes (p>0.05). En cuanto al reflejo de inflación o contracción éste se encontró ausente en 23/39 niños con encopresis (59 por ciento), mientras que estuvo ausente en 11/44 niños constipados (26.8 por ciento) (p<0.05).