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Constipation: evaluation and management.

M L Borum¹

¹Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

|August 3, 2001

Summary

Constipation is a common symptom. Most patients with chronic constipation do not need extensive medical evaluation and can be treated with dietary changes and fiber supplements.

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Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine

Background:

Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal symptom impacting numerous individuals.
While often multifactorial, most chronic constipation cases lack an identifiable underlying medical disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline the diagnostic and therapeutic approach for chronic constipation.
To emphasize conservative management strategies before considering advanced interventions.

Main Methods:

Review of current medical literature and clinical guidelines on constipation management.
Focus on initial interventions, pharmacological options, and surgical criteria.

Main Results:

Limited medical evaluation is typically sufficient for most chronic constipation patients.
Dietary modifications and fiber supplements are primary treatment recommendations.
Alternative agents and surgery are reserved for refractory cases meeting specific criteria.

Conclusions:

Conservative management, including dietary changes and fiber, is the cornerstone of chronic constipation treatment.
Extensive diagnostic workups are often unnecessary for the majority of patients.
Surgical intervention for constipation should be reserved for highly selected cases.

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