Chronic constipation is a very common problem that negatively affects the quality of life of patients, especially the elderly population. It can also lead to significant health care expenditure. Careful assessment by obtaining a thorough history and physical examination with limited indicated diagnostic testing is important to identify potential underlying etiologies and to treat effectively.
GrayJR.What is chronic constipation? Definition and diagnosis. Can J Gastroenterol. 2011;25(Suppl B):7B-10B.
3.
HigginsPDJohansonJF.Epidemiology of constipation in North America: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004;99(4):750-759.
4.
PrimroseWRCapewellAESimpsonGKSmithRG.Prescribing patterns observed in registered nursing homes and long-stay geriatric wards. Age Ageing. 1987;16(1):25-28.
5.
TalleyNJFlemingKCEvansJMet al. Constipation in an elderly community: a study of prevalence and potential risk factors. Am J Gastroenterol. 1996;91(1):19-25.
6.
YuSWRaoSS.Anorectal physiology and pathophysiology in the elderly. Clin Geriatr Med. 2014;30(1):95-106.
7.
NyropKAPalssonOSLevyRLet al. Costs of health care for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, functional diarrhoea and functional abdominal pain. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007;26:237-248.
8.
ChevalierPLamotteMJosephADuboisDBoeckxstaensG.In-hospital costs associated with chronic constipation in Belgium: a retrospective database study. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26(3):368-376. doi:10.1111/nmo.12269.
9.
TantiphlachivaKRaoPAttaluriARaoSS.Digital rectal examination is a useful tool for identifying patients with dyssynergia. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;8(11):955-960. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2010.06.031.
10.
MounseyARaleighMWilsonA.Management of constipation in older adults. Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(6):500-504.
11.
CaiJYuanZZhangS.Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation—which symptom is more indispensable to have a colonoscopy?Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015;8(1):938-942.
12.
RaoSSGoJT.Update on the management of constipation in the elderly: new treatment options. Clin Interv Aging. 2010;5:163-171.
13.
Gomez-PinillaPJGibbonsSJSarrMGet al. Changes in interstitial cells of cajal with age in the human stomach and colon. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011;23(1):36-44.
14.
ShinACamilleriMNadeauAet al. Interpretation of overall colonic transit in defecation disorders in males and females. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2013;25(6):502-508.
15.
CostillaVCFoxx-OrensteinAE.Constipation: understanding mechanisms and management. Clin Geriatr Med. 2014;30(1):107-115. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2013.10.001.
16.
GinsbergDAPhillipsSEWallaceJJosephsonKL.Evaluating and managing constipation in the elderly. Urol Nurs. 2007;27(3):191-200.
17.
SimmonsSFSchnelleJF.Effects of an exercise and scheduled-toileting intervention on appetite and constipation in nursing home residents. J Nutr Health Aging. 2004;8(2):116-121.
18.
KolarGJCamilleriMBurtonDNadeauAZinsmeisterAR.Prevalence of colonic motor or evacuation disorders in patients presenting with chronic nausea and vomiting evaluated by a single gastroenterologist in a tertiary referral practice. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26(1):131-138.
19.
TalleyNJ.How to do and interpret a rectal examination in gastroenterology. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103(4):820-822.
20.
RaoSSOzturkRLaineL.Clinical utility of diagnostic tests for constipation in adults: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100(7):1605-1615.
21.
SharmaARaoS.Constipation: pathophysiology and current therapeutic approaches. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017;239:59-74.
22.
RaoSSSinghS.Clinical utility of colonic and anorectal manometry in chronic constipation. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2010;44(9):597-609.
23.
FletcherJGBusseRFRiedererSJet al. Magnetic resonance imaging of anatomic and dynamic defects of the pelvic floor in defecatory disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(2):399-411.
24.
HintonJMLennard-JonesJEYoungAC.A new method for studying gut transit times using radioopaque markers. Gut. 1969;10(10):842-847.
25.
StivlandTCamilleriMVassalloMet al. Scintigraphic measurement of regional gut transit in idiopathic constipation. Gastroenterology. 1991;101(1):107-115.
26.
LeeYYErdoganARaoSS.How to assess regional and whole gut transit time with wireless motility capsule. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20(2):265-270.
27.
BharuchaAEPembertonJHLockeGR.American Gastroenterological Association Technical Review on Constipation. Gastroenterology. 2013;144(1):218-238. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2012.10.028.
28.
BoveABelliniMBattagliaEet al. Consensus statement AIGO/SICCR diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation and obstructed defecation (Part II: treatment). World J Gastroenterol. 2012;18(36):4994-5013. doi:10.3748/wjg.v18.i36.4994.
29.
TackJMüller-LissnerSStanghelliniVet al. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation—a European perspective. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011;23(8):697-710. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01709.x.
30.
Vazquez RoqueMBourasEP. Epidemiology and management of chronic constipation in elderly patients. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:919-30. doi:10.2147/CIA.S54304.
31.
SuaresNCFordAC.Systematic review: the effects of fibre in the management of chronic idiopathic constipation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011;33(8):895-901. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04602.x.
32.
BeckDE.Evaluation and management of constipation. Ochsner J. 2008;8(1):25-31.
33.
NybergCHendelJNielsenOH.The safety of osmotically acting cathartics in colonic cleansing. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;7(10):557-564. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2010.136.
34.
YıldarMYamanİBaşbuğMÇavdarFTopfedaisiHDericiH.A new approach in bowel preparation before colonoscopy in patients with constipation: a prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded trial. Turk J Surg. 2017;33(1):29-32. doi:0.5152/UCD.2015.3189.
35.
FineAPattersonJ.Severe hyperphosphatemia following phosphate administration for bowel preparation in patients with renal failure: two cases and a review of the literature. Am J Kidney Dis. 1997;29(1):103-105.
36.
JohansonJFMortonDGeenenJUenoR.Multicenter, 4-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of lubiprostone, a locally-acting type-2 chloride channel activator, in patients with chronic constipation. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103(1):170-177.
37.
UenoR.Multiple, escalating, oral-dose study to assess the safety, tolerance, and pharmacodynamic profile of lubiprostone in normal healthy volunteers. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2005;17:78.
38.
KammMAMüller-LissnerSTalleyNJet al. Tegaserod for the treatment of chronic constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multinational study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100(2):362-372.
39.
JohnsonJFUenoR.Lubiprostone, a locally acting chloride channel activator, in adult patients with chronic constipation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study to evaluate efficacy and safety. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007;25:1351-1361.
40.
Martínez-MartínezMICalabuig-TolsáRCauliO.The effect of probiotics as a treatment for constipation in elderly people: a systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2017;71:142-149. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2017.04.004.