Rectal puncture complicating caudal blockade in a child with severe rectal distension

We describe a case of unrecognized rectal puncture following unsuccessful caudal blockade in a patient later found to have marked rectal distension on MRI. This may have contributed to the rectal injury.     

Identification and validation of functional gastrointestinal disorder subtypes using latent class analysis: a population-based study

Objective: Attempts to categorize distinct functional gastrointestinal disorders based on reported symptoms continue but symptoms frequently overlap. The study objective was to use latent class analysis (LCA) which accommodates both continuous and discrete manifest variables to determine mutually exclusive subgroup assignments of a population-based sample using gastrointestinal symptom and patient data.

Materials and methods: A validated bowel disease questionnaire and somatic symptom questionnaire were mailed to an age and gender stratified randomly selected community sample. Responses to the symptom questions were dichotomized as frequent vs. infrequent based on Rome IV criteria. A LCA model was developed using a calibration subset and the results applied to the validation subset.

Results: There were 3831 total respondents (48%) with 3425 having complete data. The LCA algorithm was run for each of 10 (random) splits of the dataset and 2–6 latent classes were specified. Using the values of Akaike’s Information Criterion coefficient c to determine fit of the data, 4 latent classes yielded better values resulting in four subgroups: ‘asymptomatic,’ ‘upper’ abdominal symptoms, ‘lower’ abdominal symptoms, and ‘mixed’ (upper and lower abdomen).

Conclusions: Latent class analysis identified 4 groups based on symptoms. This approach resulted in differentiation by anatomical region rather than the Rome IV classification of symptoms.     

Lack of objective evidence of efficacy of laxatives in chronic constipation

Laxatives are commonly used to treat constipation and can be bought over-the-counter in many countries, although some preparations need to be prescribed by physicians. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the published evidence on the efficacy of laxatives in constipation. We found that large, well-controlled, published studies whose data were comparable were lacking. Of 250 articles, 35 met the inclusion criteria but only 11 yielded usable data (N = 375 patients on laxatives, 174 on placebo). There was an effect of laxatives on stool frequency (mean increase 1.9 stools per week) and stool weight (mean increase 476 g) but this was not clearly distinguishable from that of placebo therapies (1 stool and 434 g, respectively) in studies up to 4 weeks in duration. Similarly, studies of 5–12 weeks yielded no differences overall. These results cannot definitively rule out laxatives as an effective treatment, due to the poor published evidence. Better evidence is required to justify the continued expenditure of funds on laxatives by both patients and formularies.     

天津市成年人慢性便秘调查及相关因素分析

目的 对当前天津市成年人慢性便秘的患病情况及相关因素进行调查。方法 9家医院按划分调查范围，采用整群分层随机抽样方法，于2002年8月～2003年3月对7220名年龄大于18岁人群进行调查，调查内容包括疾病相关因素等共118个项目，调查结果进行单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析。结果 7220人中慢性便秘检出率为11．6％，其中女性发病率为13．4％，男性为9．7％．差异有显著性(P=0．000)。发病率随年龄增长而增高，且与劳动强度、心理压力、性格、运动情况等相关。慢性便秘与反流性食管炎、功能性消化不良等亦有相关性。结论 通过改变生活方式、增加饮水、多进食蔬菜等及减少压力、调整心理、养成良好的排便习惯，可预防和减少慢性便秘的发病率。     

Long term efficacy, safety, and tolerabilitity of low daily doses of isosmotic polyethylene glycol electrolyte balanced solution (PMF-100) in the treatment of functional chronic constipation

AIMS: To assess the long term therapeutic effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of low daily doses of isosmotic PEG electrolyte solutions (PMF-100) administered for a six month period for the treatment of functional constipation, in a double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study. METHODS: After an initial four week run in period with PMF-100 (250 ml twice daily; PEG 14.6 g twice daily), 70 patients suffering from chronic constipation (58 females, aged 42 (15) years) with normalised bowel frequency (>3 bowel movements (bm)/week) were randomly allocated to receive either PMF-100 or placebo, contained in sachets (one sachet in 250 ml of water twice daily) for 20 weeks. Patients were assessed at four week intervals, and reported frequency and modality of evacuation, laxative use, and relevant symptoms on a diary card. At weeks 1, 12, and 24, a physical examination and laboratory tests were performed. RESULTS: Complete remission of constipation was reported by a significantly (p<0.01) higher number of patients treated with PMF-100 compared with placebo at each four week visit. At the end of the study, 77% of the PMF-100 group and 20% of the placebo group were asymptomatic. Compared with placebo, patients treated with PMF-100 reported hard/pellety stools and straining at defecation less frequently, a significantly higher bowel frequency (week 12: 7. 4 (3.1) v 4.3 (2.5) bm/week, 95% CI 1.64, 4.42; week 24: 7.4 (3.2) v 5.4 (2.1) bm/week, 95% CI 0.13,3.93), reduced consumption of laxative/four weeks (week 12: 0.7 (2.7) v 2.2 (3.3), 95% CI -2.29, 0. 03; week 24: 0.2 (0.8) v 1.4 (2), 95% CI -2.07, -0.023), reduced mean number of sachets used (week 12: 33 (13) v 43 (12), 95% CI -17. 24, 4.56; week 24: 33 (13) v 44 (12), 95% CI -19.68, -2.24), and reduced number of drop outs for therapy failure (16 v 3; p<0.005). Adverse events, physical findings, laboratory values, palatability, and overall tolerance of the solutions did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of small daily doses of isosmotic PEG electrolyte balanced solutions was effective over a six month period for the treatment of functional constipation. A mean daily dose of approximately 300 ml of PEG solution (PEG 17.52 g) appeared to be safe, well tolerated, and devoid of significant side effects.     

Clinical characteristics and peripheral T cell subsets in Parkinson’s disease patients with constipation

Constipation is frequently reported in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We evaluated the characteristics of patients with PD and constipation and explored the role of T cell subsets in PD-associated constipation. One hundred and two patients with PD treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were enrolled in this study between January 2012 and October 2013. All patients completed KESS questionnaires and constipation was rated. The proportions of peripheral blood Thl7 and Treg cells were assessed by flow cytometry in 45 patients. Colonoscopies were performed in six patients. Thirty-one patients with PD reported slow-transit constipation (STC), 15 rectal evacuation disorder (RED) and 33 mixed constipation (Mixed). STC most frequently occurred before onset of PD motor symptoms, while Mixed occurred before or after motor symptoms, and RED occurred most frequently after motor symptoms. CD4⁺ T cell infiltration in the colonic mucosa was observed in patients with PD and constipation. The frequency of Th17 and Treg cells in patients with PD and constipation was significantly higher than in those without constipation (P<0.001). Among patients with PD and constipation, the frequency of Th17 and Treg cells in STC was the highest. However, there was no difference in the ratio of Th17/Tregs between the patients with PD with and without constipation, or patients with PD and different types of constipations (P>0.05). Constipation reported before the onset of PD motor symptoms was most often STC or Mixed, and PD constipation may be associated with immune activation in the colonic mucosa.     

耳穴贴压对改善维持性血液透析患者便秘的效果观察

目的探讨耳穴贴压对改善维持性血液透析患者便秘的效果,为临床护理干预提供借鉴。方法选择我院治疗维持性血液透析患者90例,随机分为观察组和对照组各45例。对照组给予基础治疗和护理,观察组在对照组的基础上增加耳穴(大肠、小肠、直肠、脾、肾、内分泌)贴压护理干预。观察两组患者治疗30 d时的效果。结果两组维持性血液透析患者治疗30 d时的疗效比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),观察组效果明显好于对照组。结论耳穴贴压可明显改善维持性血液透析患者的便秘症状,操作简便安全。     

Myotonic dystrophy as a cause of colonic pseudoobstruction: not just another constipated child

Muscular dystrophy has been traditionally associated with common gastrointestinal symptoms such as reflux, constipation, and dysphasia. In myotonic dystrophy, there are rare reports of chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (CIPOS). We herein present a case of CIPOS requiring colectomy and with good results.     

女性气虚型功能性出口梗阻型便秘的测压特点分析

目的探讨女性气虚型功能性出口梗阻型便秘（OOC）患者肛门直肠动力及直肠感知功能的特点。 方法回顾性分析南京市中医院2018年1月至2018年12月期间在便秘平台收治的53例OOC患者及60名健康志愿者的肛门直肠动力及直肠感知功能资料。 结果53例患者的平均肛管静息压高于健康志愿者（t＝4.985,P<0.01）,平均最大收缩压低于健康志愿者（t＝7.555,P<0.01）。直肠排便压中,所有患者的平均排便压也是低于健康志愿者的（t=4.297,P<0.01）。肛门括约肌长度OOC患者较女性健康者增长（t=4.825,P<0.01）;不同合并症女性OOC患者肛管静息压与健康志愿者相比差异均有统计学意义（t_前突=5.257,t_会阴下降=6.091,t_内套叠=4.23;P<0.05）。总体平均最大收缩压低于正常参考值,各型患者与健康志愿者差异均有统计学意义（t_前突=6.277,t_会阴下降=5.306,t_内套叠=3.293;P<0.05）;直肠排便压中,各型患者均表现排便压较低,但仅直肠前突及会阴下降与健康者相比差异均有统计学意义（t_前突=3.313,t_会阴下降=4.637,P均<0.05）;患者排便阈值及平均排便阈值均高于健康志愿者,差异均有统计学意义（t＝2.818,P<0.01）。虽然53例患者的平均初始阈值高于健康志愿者,但差异没有统计学意义（P>0.05）。最大耐受量与健康志愿者相比,差异也没有统计学意义（P>0.05）;4种合并症便秘患者的初始阈值与健康志愿者相差不大,差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。 结论OOC动力特点主要表现为高肛管静息压,低收缩压,以及直肠低敏感性,这说明肛门外括约肌及盆底肌的收缩及协调功能障碍、直肠敏感性下降及对容量刺激的反应较迟钝可能是造成功能性便秘的重要原因。     

老年人慢性便秘的药物治疗进展

慢性便秘是老年人最常见的消化道症状之一,不仅影响老年人的生活质量,也存在诱发或加重其他疾病的危险性。老年人慢性便秘的病因复杂,治愈难度大,目前主要是根据便秘的病因、分类及其严重程度进行综合治疗,常见的治疗方法包括调整生活方式、药物治疗、精神心理治疗、手术治疗及生物反馈等。本文针对近年来国内外老年人慢性便秘药物治疗进展,尤其是5-羟色胺受体激动剂、鸟苷酸环化酶c受体激动剂、氯离子通道激活剂、阿片μ受体拮抗剂等新型药物的疗效及安全性进行综述。