FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 349:1360-1368 October 2, 2003 Number 14 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text Purchase this article Letters Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited E-mail When Letters Appear PubMed Citation

Constipation is a common symptom affecting between 2 percent^1,2 and 27 percent³ of the population in Western countries. In the United States, it results in more than 2.5 million visits to physicians, 92,000 hospitalizations,² and laxative sales of several hundred million dollars a year. Constipation is more prevalent in women than in men,⁴ in nonwhites than in white persons,⁵ in children than in adults,⁶ and in elderly than in younger adults.⁵ Severe constipation (e.g., bowel movements only twice a month) is seen almost exclusively in women.⁴ Physical inactivity, low income, limited education, a history of sexual abuse, and symptoms of . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Definition

Causes and Pathophysiology

            Normal-Transit Constipation

            Defecatory Disorders

            Slow-Transit Constipation

Clinical Evaluation

History and Physical Examination

Laboratory Tests

Physiological Examination

            Colonic-Transit Testing

            Anorectal Manometry

            Balloon Expulsion

            Defecography

Management

Fiber

Laxatives

Prokinetic Drugs

Biofeedback Therapy

Botulinum Type A Toxin

Surgery

Source Information

From the Gastroenterology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston (A.L.); and the Gastroenterology Division, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. (M.C.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Lembo at the Gastroenterology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dana 501, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, or at alembo@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Related Letters:

Chronic Constipation
Brisinda G., Cadeddu F., Maria G., Laughton J., Lembo A., Camilleri M.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2004; 350:1259-1260, Mar 18, 2004. Correspondence

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Camilleri, M., Kerstens, R., Rykx, A., Vandeplassche, L. (2008). A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Prucalopride for Severe Chronic Constipation. NEJM 358: 2344-2354 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mariani, G., Pauwels, E. K.J., AlSharif, A., Marchi, S., Boni, G., Barreca, M., Bellini, M., Grosso, M., de Bortoli, N., Mumolo, G., Costa, F., Rubello, D., Strauss, H. W. (2008). Radionuclide Evaluation of the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract. JNM 49: 776-787 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mayer, E A, Bradesi, S, Chang, L, Spiegel, B M R, Bueller, J A, Naliboff, B D (2008). Functional GI disorders: from animal models to drug development. Gut 57: 384-404 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ambizas, E. M, Ginzburg, R. (2007). Lubiprostone: A Chloride Channel Activator for Treatment of Chronic Constipation. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 41: 957-964 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gal-Ezer, S., Shaoul, R. (2006). The Safety of Mineral Oil in the Treatment of Constipation--A Lesson from Prolonged Overdose. CLIN PEDIATR 45: 856-858 [Abstract]  
• Harrington, K. L, Haskvitz, E. M (2006). Managing a Patient's Constipation With Physical Therapy. ptjournal 86: 1511-1519 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lembo, A. J. (2006). A 54-Year-Old Woman With Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome. JAMA 295: 925-933 [Full Text]  
• Bassotti, G, Villanacci, V, Maurer, C A, Fisogni, S, Di Fabio, F, Cadei, M, Morelli, A, Panagiotis, T, Cathomas, G, Salerni, B (2006). The role of glial cells and apoptosis of enteric neurones in the neuropathology of intractable slow transit constipation. Gut 55: 41-46 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Brisinda, G., Cadeddu, F., Maria, G., Laughton, J., Lembo, A., Camilleri, M. (2004). Chronic Constipation. NEJM 350: 1259-1260 [Full Text]  
• LeLeiko, N. S. (2003). Constipation: A Long-Term Problem in Need of Careful Follow-Up?. AAP Grand Rounds 10: 71-72 [Full Text]