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At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Infantile constipation and Allomin-lactulose. Treatment of infantile obstipation in infants fed with breast milk substitutes. A controlled clinical trial of 2 per cent and 4 per cent Allomin-lactulose].

The Authors investigated the effects of Allomin with admixture of 2% and 4% lactulose on constipation in infants aged 0-6 months reared on breast-milk substitutes. The investigation was randomized and double-blind and was carried out during the period 1.4.1987-31.7.1988 on non-hospitalized infants in the counties of Funen and North Jutland in cooperation with the health visitors in these regions. Constipation was defined as hard and difficult defaecation and the trial period lasted for 14 days. Parents of the infants who participated classified the infants' motions according to consistence and degree of difficulty in defaecation on special forms. A total of 220 children participated and these received, after randomizing, either Allomin-lactulose 2% or 4% as the only breast-milk substitute during the period of observation. The effect of treatment was defined as "no constipation" i.e. all motions during 24 hours described as easy and of normal or thin consistence. In addition, the effect was measured by the parents' general impression of what the infant thrived best on. With both of the preparations, treatment was effective in over 90% of the infants in both the groups without significant difference. The effect occurred gradually and, in some cases, up to 8-10 days after initiation of treatment without significant difference in the rate of effect between the groups. After the effect had commenced, significantly fewer thin motions occurred in the 2% group than in the 4% group. 92% of the infants in the 2% group and 91% in the 4% group wanted to continue the Allomin-lactulose preparation rather than the usual breast-milk substitute. A retrospective questionnaire to parents of 97 infants who had continued with Allomin-lactulose 2% was answered by 84.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Breast Feeding↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of diet in the treatment of constipation. Review of the literature].

Constipation represents a common social phenomenon today, correlated with the habits of diet and life. Many studies have shown the lack of alimentary fiber as a cause of constipation. In analyzing the different types, the characteristics, the physical and metabolical action of fiber, it has been shown that it is necessary to introduce fiber into the everyday diet to be able to prevent or cure constipation. In addition, it has been seen that there has been a reduction in the consumption of fiber in many nations and some reasons have been investigated.

Constipation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation].

Constipation is a symptom caused by several different pathogenetic mechanisms; it may be secondary to other diseases or be in itself a disease. All patients should perform investigations deemed to exclude or identify known causes of constipation and, in the presence of megarectum, anorectal manometry to detect ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease. In idiopathic constipation, diagnostic work up should attempt to identify alterations of defecation, with defecography, and of colonic propulsion, with gastrointestinal transit time measurement. Evaluation of large bowel segmental transit time, using radiopaque corpuscolate markers, may discriminate patients according to different modalities of transit. Based on a correct diagnostic evaluation the therapeutical approach can be finalized to well defined subgroups of patients. The treatment comprises several types of therapy which may be used alone or in association in the individual patient: bowel training, high residue diets, physiotherapy, bio-feedback, pharmacological therapy, psychiatric therapy, surgery.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Sigmoid motility stimulated by luminal distention. Changes in the motility response in constipation by the slowing down of left colonic transit].

The aim of our study was to develop a new technique of sigmoid manometry using standardized luminal distensions and to compare patterns of colonic motility following distension in normal subjects and in constipated patients. Eight subjects without colonic disturbances and 8 constipated patients with delayed transit time of the left colon as shown by radiopaque markers were investigated. Sigmoid motor activity was recorded by measuring pressure in a distending latex balloon placed at 25 cm from the anus. Inflations were maintained during 250 s and separated by 60 s recovery periods of deflation. Volumes of air (V) were increased until the patient reported abdominal pain (VMT). For each distension level, the resistance to distension of the bowel wall evaluated by the baseline adaptative pressure (P) and the contractile activity (A) quantified by planimetry of the active contractile activity (A) quantified by planimetry of the active contraction waves superimposed to P were assessed. In normal subjects, VMT was 147 +/- 9 ml. P increased linearly with V (p less than 0.03) up to 4,336 +/- 876 Pa. A increased with V until VMT/2 reached the maximum of 389 +/- 72 Pa*; for higher volumes A decreased significantly with to 166 +/- 46 Pa for VMT. Reference to controls, the constipated patients had a decreased VMT (61 +/- 4 ml). P increase at VMT (5,084 +/- 753 Pa) and A maximal value (387 +/- 176 Pa) were not different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of methylcellulose on symptoms of constipation.

The efficacy of methylcellulose was evaluated in 538 patients with a history of constipation. The patients were seen both by primary care physicians and by consultants. Patients were selected on the basis of passage of fewer than three stools per week. Frequency, consistency, and ease of passage of the stools were measured before and after one to three tablespoonsful per day of methylcellulose. The frequency of bowel movements as well as the consistency and ease of passage of the stools returned to normal with methylcellulose treatment; 61% of the patients were judged to have less constipation. The response to methylcellulose was not altered by the sex or age of the patients nor by the presence of colonic diverticular disease. This study suggests that methylcellulose is beneficial for the treatment of chronic and acute constipation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Constipation].

Constipation is a symptom of various diseases that must be differentiated in the diagnostic work-up of the patient. Most frequently however, no structural abnormalities can be identified and constipation is part of the irritable colon syndrome. A diet deficient in bulk is the main cause of constipation in western countries. As the complaints usually last for years before a physician is consulted many patients are chronically abusing laxatives. Therefore treatment is difficult and behavioral modifications of the patient are not easily achieved. He should learn that laxatives do not "clean" the bowel and that it functions normally even if there is not "one stool a day". Although there are many laxatives that can be prescribed usefully for a short time, for long term treatment only bulk forming agents and dietary fiber supplementation are recommended.

Cathartics↗
PubMed1987

Comparative laxation of psyllium with and without senna in an ambulatory constipated population.

Our short-term study used objective and subjective criteria to evaluate the ability of two laxative preparations to relieve constipation. Forty-two adults who were constipated, i.e., had less than or equal to 3 bowel movements during 1 wk of a single-blind placebo treatment, were randomized to receive psyllium (7.2 g/day) or psyllium plus senna (6.5 + 1.5 g/day). Both laxatives increased defecation frequency and wet and dry stool weights although the added effect of the senna was clearly evident. Only the psyllium with senna increased stool moisture. Two distinct responses to the psyllium plus senna were evident; the subpopulation of high responders (n = 7) was responsible for most of the increase in stool frequency and dry weight in this group, and laxation in the subpopulation of normal responders (n = 12) was similar to that observed in those receiving psyllium alone. Both laxatives provided a similarly high degree of subjective relief and improvement in stool consistency. When constipation was assessed objectively by stool frequency and weight, laxation was attained by 63% of the psyllium plus senna group and 48% of the psyllium group.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Surgical treatment of chronic constipation with megarectum in children].

In this paper, a new operative procedure for patients with chronic constipation with megarectum and its results are presented. Nine cases of idiopathic chronic constipation and one case of short aganglionosis showing megarectum underwent this operation. An incision was placed on the dentate line at 6 o'clock and the internal sphincter muscle was identified. The incision was extended to this muscle. The blunt division between the internal and external sphincter muscles was orally advanced 5 cm from the dentate line. The all layers of anus and lower part of rectum in length of 5 cm were clamped by 2 forceps in width of 1 cm. The mucosal and muscular layers were bilaterally cut in the outer side of the forceps. The rectum on the top of the forceps was pulled through to the dentate line and was anastomosed there; i.e. the posterior part of the anus was replaced by the rectal wall. Bowel habits of operated patients were evaluated at 1 to 3 years after the operation. Complete cure was obtained in 7 cases (including 1 case with aganglionosis). Three cases improved but needed sometimes suppositories. This procedure, sphinctero-myectomy and-plasty may be an operation of choice for chronic constipation with megarectum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Chronic severe constipation. Prospective motility studies in 25 consecutive patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of gastrointestinal and anal sphincter motility in 25 consecutive patients with severe constipation. Three patterns of abnormal motility were observed in 68% of the patients: (a) isolated anal sphincter dysfunction (20%), (b) a generalized disorder of gastrointestinal motility (24%), and (c) rectosigmoid dysfunction (24%). The remaining patients had either a previously unrecognized primary disorder leading to constipation or the irritable bowel syndrome. Duration of symptoms, laxative usage, or other historical features failed to distinguish each of the groups. Anal sphincter dysfunction was diagnosed by demonstrating impaired sphincter relaxation during rectal distention. Generalized motor disorders were diagnosed by demonstrating impaired colonic and esophageal function together with an abnormality in gastric emptying. Rectosigmoid dysfunction was manifest by an impaired rectosigmoid motor response to feeding without evidence of other organ dysfunction. These studies indicate that a high percentage of patients with more severe degrees of constipation have a serious but sometimes treatable disorder of bowel function, rather than the irritable bowel syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Constipation--a simple approach to treatment.

A simple method of treating patients with constipation is outlined and has been used successfully in 40 patients with severe primary constipation or constipation associated with diverticular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The effect of bran on bowel function in constipation.

Bran is widely used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. With few exceptions, investigative work has focused on the effect of bran in normal subjects. Despite its widespread use, there have been no systematic studies of bran in constipation. Wheat bran is the "gold standard" because no other natural fiber has yet been shown to be as effective in increasing fecal bulk. We evaluated the effect of two brans, wheat and corn (20 g/day), on fecal weight, fecal moisture content, bowel movement frequency, intestinal transit time, and symptoms in 10 constipated (less than or equal to 3 movements/wk) but otherwise healthy women. The administration of bran was associated with a significant increase in fecal weight (157%), bowel movement frequency (55%), and decrease in intestinal transmit time (50%). Percentage fecal moisture increased only with wheat bran (67.4-72.1%), whereas corn bran was significantly better than wheat bran in relieving symptoms of constipation.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Constipation in the elderly.

Constipation is a frequent complaint among the elderly. Misconceptions about normal function and insistence on a daily bowel movement may be factors which have led to the overuse of laxatives. Evidence of gastrointestinal blood loss, a recent change in bowel elimination pattern or complications of constipation are indications for evaluation by complete laboratory, endoscopic and radiographic procedures. Natural fiber, careful attention to diet and fluid intake, regard for toilet needs and encouragement of activity are recommended as effective means for correcting constipation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical approach to constipation: proposal of a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol].

A study concerning constipation in children has been carried out in the University Department of Pediatrics and in the Division of Pediatric Surgery of Parma with the aim of reaching an homogeneus approach: it has been applied to 20 children up to now observed for such a problem. According to clinical and anamnestic criteria, children were divided into 3 groups on the basis of different degree of constipation: 1) moderate, 2) mild, 3) severe. Children belonging to the 2nd and 3rd group underwent barium enema and rectal manometry; two cases of ultrashort Hirschprung's disease and 7 cases of functional megarectum were diagnosed. Different treatment have been employed for each group and good results were observed in 18 cases. The AA. briefly discuss the different aspects concerning constipation and its therapy in childhood including diet, drugs, psychotherapy and surgical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Chronic constipation. Clinical forms and therapeutic responses].

Fifteen patients suffering from different types of constipation were studied by means of radiopaque markers in order to know: a) If there is a correlation between the clinical state and the physiopathological motor variables of idiopatic constipation. b) The efficacy of a compound that combines its bulk action to its stimulation of the intestinal wall. Based on the results it is concluded that: The methodology is not useful in order to differentiate the colon motor behaviours in idiopatic constipation if these differences really exist. The evacuative effect of the compound was easily and objectively demonstrated by the acceleration of the radiopaque markers along the right colon. There was a good correlation between the subjective assessment done by the physician, and the patient and the objective results.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Colonic electromyography in chronic constipation.

Myoelectric activity of the sigmoid has been studied in 12 patients with chronic nonorganic constipation and 10 control subjects. All patients showed total gastrointestinal transit time longer than 96 h, with left-colonic or rectocolonic slowed transit. Electrical and mechanical activity was recorded by means of an intraluminal probe with bipolar suction electrodes and open-ended tips. Two groups of frequencies of slow waves, a slower rhythm at approximately 3 cycles/min and a faster rhythm at approximately 6 cycles/min were recorded in patients and control subjects. The mean frequency of the slower rhythm was significantly (p less than 0.005) higher in patients with constipation than in control subjects, whereas the frequency of the faster rhythm and the incidence of both rhythms were similar in the two groups. Mechanical activity showed no difference in terms of motility index and percentage of activity between patients and control subjects. Results of the study indicate that patients with left colonic constipation show an increase in frequency of the slower colonic rhythm in the very segment in which slowing down of transit occurs. It is suggested that the higher slow-wave activity in the sigmoid induces an increase in segmenting contractions and therefore may be responsible for the slowing down of intestinal transit.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1978

Constipation.

Constipation pervades our society. It is associated with emotional stress, lack of dietary fiber, and ignorance. Laxative stimulants, bulk forming agents, stool softeners, and osmotic cathartics may all be needed to treat endstage constipation initially, but "weaning" should be possible in most cases. Endstage constipation, in rare cases, can be life threatening due to urinary tract or colonic obstruction or perforation.

Constipation↗
PubMed1981

Constipation and obesity: a statistical analysis.

Constipation frequency was investigated among 1897 subjects (874 males and 1023 females), ranging in age from 6 to 70 years, chosen at random between city inhabitants and farmers. Bowel habit was studied in 966 obese patients (390 males and 576 females). The authors followed for the diagnosis of constipation either the commonest and restrictive criterion of the weekly bowel actions or the clinical one which implies also others parameters, like hard or small stools, difficulties of expulsion or feeling of incomplete evacuation after defecation. The statistical analysis showed that constipation frequency is 8.3% in obese patients and 1.5% in normal-weighting, according to weekly bowel actions criterion: the difference is statistically significative (p less than 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Clinical and neurohistological aspects of constipation in newborn and early childhood].

This study is based on a collection of 385 cases of constipation in newborn infants and young children, investigated clinically and by means of histological and neurohistological examination of biopsies taken from the rectal mucosa. Neurohistological techniques proved superior for the differential diagnosis and, hence, of greater value for determining further therapeutic management, both medical and surcival. Four special problems are discussed: Hirschsprung's disease in different neurohistological and clinical findings in these cases, functional ileus of the large intestine in newborn infants, chronic constipation and, lastly, the problems of anal stenosis and anal atresia. The present series of cases serves to illustrate that colostomy, carried out at the right time, can be a life-saving procedure in coping with the grave problem of a potentially lethal enterocolithis in constipation of different aetiology of the newborn or somewhat older infant. Neurohistological investigation is, however, essential for verification of the diagnosis because in Hirschsprung's disease emergency colostomy prevents the development of megacolon.

Adolescent↗