Constipation diagnostic study of choice

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Overview

Diagnostic study of choice for constipation is ROME III criteria. Rome III criteria includes symptom onset for more than 6 months and two or more number of specific symptoms. Specific symptoms of constipation include straining, hard stool, sensation of incomplete evacuation, sensation of obstruction, necessity of manual maneuvers, less than 3 bowel movements per week, lack of loose stool, and lack of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The diagnostic criteria based on the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), Rome III criteria, and pharmacologic studies based criteria are as follows:^[1]^[2]^[3]

Rome III criteria^[1]^[2]

Pharmacologic studies based criteria^[1]^[3]

Symptom onset for ≥ 6 months and ≥ 2 of the following for the past 3 months:

Straining during at least one-fourth of defecations
Hard or lumpy stools in at least one-fourth of defecations
Sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least one-fourth of defecations
Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockade for at least one-fourth of defecations
Manual maneuvers to facilitate at least one-fourth of defecations
< 3 defecations per week
Without the use of laxatives, loose stools are rarely present
No sufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Spontaneous bowel movements < 3 per week and ≥ 1 of the following for at least 12 weeks during the past 12 months:

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Bharucha AE, Pemberton JH, Locke GR (2013). "American Gastroenterological Association technical review on constipation". Gastroenterology. 144 (1): 218–38. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2012.10.028. PMC 3531555. PMID 23261065.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Longstreth, GF.; Thompson, WG.; Chey, WD.; Houghton, LA.; Mearin, F.; Spiller, RC. (2006). "Functional bowel disorders". Gastroenterology. 130 (5): 1480–91. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2005.11.061. PMID 16678561. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Lembo, AJ.; Kurtz, CB.; Macdougall, JE.; Lavins, BJ.; Currie, MG.; Fitch, DA.; Jeglinski, BI.; Johnston, JM. (2010). "Efficacy of linaclotide for patients with chronic constipation". Gastroenterology. 138 (3): 886–95.e1. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009.12.050. PMID 20045700. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)