Study on gastrointestinal motility in slow transit constipation

Objective: To investigate motor activity of gastrointestinal tract in patients with slow transit constipation(STC). Methods: 42 patients with STC and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Each subject underwent colonic transit test, gastric emptying, orocecal transit time, electromyography and anorectal manometry. Results: According to transit index, 42 STC patients were divided into 3 types: 1. 0.5<TI1.0, slow rectosigmoid transit 15 cases; 2. TI=0.5, colorectal stasis 10 cases; 3. 0<TI≤0.5, slow colonic transit 17 cases. Gastric emptying rate at the fourth hour was decreased in STC patients than in controls (P < 0.05). The mean orocaecal transit time was significantly delayed in the patients (P<0.05). Paradoxical anal sphincter contraction with defecation effort was higher prevalent in patients with slow rectosigmoid transit and colorectal stasis than patients with slow colonic transit(P<0.01, respectively). Minimum relaxation volume and maximal rectal tolerable volume were significantly increased in STC patients (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: STC displayed colonic abnormality, and/or pelvic floor dysfunction. In addition, it showed motor abnormalities of upper gut, might be part of a pan-enteric motor disorders.