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Electrical stimulation therapy for slow transit constipation in children: a systematic review
Ming-Liang Lu1, Jin He, Shifeier Lu
1Department of Anorectal Surgery, No.117 Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310004, Zhejiang, China.
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|March 17, 2015
Summary
Electrical stimulation therapy shows moderate effectiveness for pediatric slow transit constipation. While improvements were noted in defecation frequency and quality of life, further high-quality research is needed to confirm its clinical significance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Research Methodology
Background:
- Slow transit constipation (STC) is a prevalent pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorder.
- Conventional treatments for STC in children often yield suboptimal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on the efficacy of electrical stimulation (ES) for treating STC in pediatric populations.
- To assess the current evidence base for ES as a therapeutic option for children with STC.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, BioMed Central, ISI Web of Knowledge).
- Six studies, including two randomized clinical trials and four prospective studies, met the inclusion criteria.
- Studies involved pediatric patients aged 3–18 years, with sample sizes ranging from 8 to 39 participants.
Main Results:
- ES therapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements in outcomes such as defecation frequency, soiling, and quality of life in some studies.
- Observed improvements were generally modest, with uncertain clinical significance.
- All included studies exhibited some level of bias, notably attrition and reporting bias.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence provides moderate support for the effectiveness of ES in treating pediatric STC.
- Higher quality studies with larger, diverse patient cohorts and extended follow-up periods are essential to definitively establish ES efficacy.
