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Colonic transit time in long-term dialysis patients
Ming-Ju Wu1, Chi-Sen Chang, Chi-Hung Cheng
1Division of Nephrology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Summary
Constipation is common in dialysis patients. Hemodialysis (HD) patients have significantly prolonged colonic transit times compared to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients and healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Constipation is a prevalent issue for patients undergoing long-term dialysis.
- Previous data on constipation incidence in dialysis patients relied heavily on self-reporting.
- Objective assessment using colonic transit time is needed for hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively investigate constipation in long-term dialysis patients.
- To compare colonic transit times between HD patients, CAPD patients, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Colonic transit time studies using radiopaque markers were performed.
- Evaluated 56 HD patients, 63 CAPD patients, and 25 healthy controls.
- Calculated segmental (right, left, rectosigmoid) and total colonic transit times.
Main Results:
- Colonic transit time was significantly prolonged in HD patients (43.0 hrs) compared to CAPD patients (32.7 hrs) and controls (24.3 hrs).
- Prolongation was observed in right and rectosigmoid segments, not the left.
- Age and interdialytic weight gain correlated with prolonged transit times in HD patients.
Conclusions:
- Long-term HD patients exhibit prolonged total, right segmental, and rectosigmoid segmental colonic transit times.
- Colonic transit time measurement aids in defining constipation pathogenesis for tailored therapy.
- Findings highlight objective differences in colonic function between dialysis modalities.