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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgAt Mayo Clinic, a multidisciplinary team of specialists work together to diagnose and treat conditions that cause chronic constipation. Constipation can be due to many disorders. It is important to identify the specific disorder for treatment to be appropriate and effective. In most cases, patients are diagnosed and treatment is begun, including surgery if necessary, in a week.
Doctors in the Motility Interest Group at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota are acclaimed for their research and treatment innovations in the area of colonic dysmotility, a severe constipation caused by dysfunctional nerves or muscles.
Specialists at Mayo Clinic have access to many specialized tests, some pioneered at Mayo, to diagnose the cause of constipation. Frequently used tests include scintigraphy, tests to measure colonic contraction (motility tests) and tests to assess whether the rectum and pelvic floor muscles function appropriately during evacuation (i.e., anorectal testing). Read more about chronic constipation diagnosis.
Physicians at Mayo Clinic provide cutting-edge care to patients who experience chronic constipation. Specialized treatment options include trials of new medications and behavior and pain management. Surgery is an option for those few patients who have debilitating symptoms due to chronic constipation. Read more about chronic constipation treatment options.
Constipation is an extremely common symptom affecting most people at some time. While people may seek medical treatment for constipation, it is rarely life threatening or disabling.
While infrequency of bowel movements is the primary definition of constipation, other symptoms (e.g., straining, stools that are excessively hard, unproductive urges, infrequency and incomplete bowel movements) also can be signs of constipation. A majority of constipated patients have no underlying medical condition; they have "functional constipation," which can usually be managed with self-help measures.
Chronic constipation can be caused by several conditions: colonic disorders, pelvic floor dysfunction or secondary constipation. Causes of secondary constipation include colon cancer, endocrine conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, an underactive thyroid gland), medications (e.g., narcotics) or neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis). Colonic disorders cause constipation when the movement of contents through the colon and/or colonic sensation is disturbed. The colonic disorders include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is often associated with constipation, and slow-transit constipation.
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www.MayoClinic.com
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The Enteric Neuroscience Program is composed of a group of scientists and physicians studing the biology of the neuromuscular system of the gastrointestinal tract.
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