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 constipation symptoms include straining, hard stool, sensation of incomplete evacuation, sensation of obstruction, necessitate 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)^[1], Rome III criteria^[2] and pharmacologic studies based criteria^[3] is as follows.

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: 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 Absence of loose stools or watery spontaneous bowel movements

↑ ^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)