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Gallbladder motility in children with chronic constipation

Magno Cardoso Veras Neto1, Roberto Massao Yamada, Elizete Aparecida Lomazi da Costa Pinto

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology Division, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. elizcostapinto@terra.com.br

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|March 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with severe constipation show impaired gallbladder motility. This gallbladder dysfunction may be a factor in functional constipation, impacting pediatric gastroenterology care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Digestive System Physiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Functional constipation is a common pediatric issue.
  • Gallbladder motility plays a role in digestion.
  • The relationship between constipation and gallbladder function in children is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate gallbladder motility in children experiencing refractory constipation.
  • To compare gallbladder contractility between constipated children and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study included 132 constipated children (ages 2-16) and 132 matched controls.
  • Gallbladder contractility was assessed using ultrasonography to measure fasting and postprandial gallbladder areas.
  • A gallbladder contractility index was calculated and compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • Constipated children exhibited significantly larger postprandial gallbladder areas compared to controls (P=.031).
  • The risk of a low gallbladder contractility index (<25%) was 5.2 times higher in constipated children (OR 5.2; 95% CI 2.5-10.81).
  • Older age was associated with a protective effect on gallbladder contractility (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.71-0.88).

Conclusions:

  • Gallbladder motility disorders are present in children with severe functional constipation.
  • This finding suggests a potential link between gallbladder dysfunction and pediatric functional constipation.
  • Further research may elucidate the role of gallbladder motility in the pathophysiology of childhood constipation.
Abstract

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