Diagnosis and treatment of constipation: a clinical update based on the Rome IV criteria

Publication date: April–June 2018Source: Journal of Coloproctology, Volume 38, Issue 2Author(s): Carlos Walter Sobrado, Isaac José Felippe Corrêa Neto, Rodrigo Ambar Pinto, Lucas Faraco Sobrado, Sergio Carlos Nahas, Ivan CecconelloAbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the published professional association guidelines regarding the current diagnosis and treatment of functional intestinal constipation in adults and to compare those guidelines with the authors’ experience to standardize actions that aid clinical reasoning and decision-making for medical professionals. A literature search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, Scielo, EMBASE and Cochrane online databases using the following terms: chronic constipation, diagnosis, management of chronic constipation, Roma IV and surgical treatment. Conclusively, chronic intestinal constipation is a common condition in adults and occurs most frequently in the elderly and in women. Establishing a precise diagnosis of the physiopathology of functional chronic constipation is complex and requires many functional tests in refractory cases. An understanding of intestinal motility and the defecatory process is critical for the appropriate management of chronic functional intestinal constipation, with surgery reserved for cases in which pharmacologic intervention has failed. The information contained in this review article is subject to the critical evaluation of the medical specialist responsible for determining the action pla...
Source: Journal of Coloproctology - Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: research