[Self-perception, colonic transit and characteristics of subjects seeking medical care for constipation in Mexico.]

Subjects seeking medical care for constipation were evaluated to find out: a) how they describe their complaint, b) their symptoms and colonic transit (CT) time, and c) determine what factors may allow to detect colonic inertia (CI) or obstructive defecation (OD). MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients demographics and medical history were collected and the modular Rome III questionnaire was applied. A screening CT with radioopaque markers was performed in all subjects. Those with an abnormal result underwent a multiple-pellet CT . Factors associated with CI and OD were analyzed.

105 patients were enrolled (92 females, mean age 36.7 years). Seventy patients described constipation as a bowel movement involving straining or being less frequently than expected (67%). The screening CT was normal in 79 patients (75%). Multiple-pellet CT was performed in 23 patients (9 normal, CI in 6, OD in 8). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) criteria were met by 79 subjects (75%) and functional constipation by 26 (25%). A greater proportion of patients with CI or OD had attended the Emergency Room, used suppositories or enemas and interfered their activities due to constipation, during the previous year to the survey (p<0.05).

Most patients described constipation as straining or lower frequency (67%) than expected. CT was normal in 84% of the patients, but it detected 6 cases of CI and 8 of OD. Patients that attended the Emergency Room, used suppositories or enemas and those whom activities were interfered turned out with CI or OD more frequently.