Fecograph: A graphical representation of daily stool forms to subtype irritable bowel syndrome in office practice

Interpreting stool form diaries for subtyping patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is cumbersome; a picture showing a trend would be easier to interpret.

Fifty-one consecutive adults with IBS (median age 35.5 years; 47 men), diagnosed using the Rome III criteria, were given a picture of the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) and asked to record their stool frequency and form for 7 days. The numbers were plotted by a technician as dots on a chart. On the y axis, BSFS category 4 was marked as 0, harder stools as +1 to +3, and softer stools as -1 to -3; each bowel movement was represented on the x axis. A line graph was plotted by connecting the dots. Each "fecograph" was then given for visual interpretation to three gastroenterologists (observers). When most readings appeared to be 0, +1, or -1, it was to be reported as normal; most above +1 as IBS-constipation (IBS-C); most below -1 as IBS-diarrhea (IBS-D); and readings crossing 1 on either side as IBS-mixed (IBS-M). If no clear trend was noted, it was IBS-unclassified (IBS-U). Each observer reported all graphs in different orders twice, at 1-month intervals; thus, 306 reports were available. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated.

Eighteen patients had IBS-C, 13 IBS-D, 4 IBS-M, and 16 IBS-U. The 51 fecographs were reported in mean 20 min 36 s. ICC for intra- and interobserver reliability was 0.62 (0.50-0.73).

The fecograph is a reliable and easy-to-use tool to subtype patients with IBS.