Effect of Electrical Stimulation in Constipated Patients with Impaired Rectal Sensation

Overview

Journal Int J Colorectal Dis

Specialties Gastroenterology
General Surgery

Date 2003 Apr 5

PMID 12677456

Citations 19

Authors

Hye-Sook Chang

Seung-Jae Myung

Suk-Kyun Yang

Hwoon-Yong Jung

Tae-Hoon Kim

In Ja Yoon

Oh Ryoun Kwon

Weon-Seon Hong

Jin-Ho Kim

Young Il Min

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aims: A subgroup of constipated patients complain of absent or diminished sense of wanting to defecate, suggesting that one of the causes of constipation is impaired rectal sensation. Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) has recently been used to treat patients with urinary and/or fecal incontinence. This study evaluated the efficacy of EST in constipated patients, especially those with impaired rectal sensation.

Patients And Methods: Of the 130 patients with functional constipation as defined by Rome II criteria, 22 patients who had impaired rectal sensation (rectal desire threshold volume > or =90 ml) on an anorectal manometry were selected. We treated 12 with EST and 10 with biofeedback therapy (BFT) according to a randomized order.

Results: Overall symptoms of patients significantly improved after each therapy in both groups. Interestingly, frequency of sense of wanting to defecate improved only after EST. On objective findings there was significant improvement in anal residual pressures on attempted defecation only after BFT solely. On the other hand, rectal sensory threshold volumes for desire and urge to defecate and maximal tolerated volume improved significantly only in the EST group.

Conclusion: Our findings show that the efficacy of EST can be comparable to BFT in a subgroup of constipated patients, especially those with impaired rectal sensation. EST might be considered as an adjunctive therapeutic modality for the management of functional constipation with impaired rectal sensation.

Citing Articles

Colonic Electrical Stimulation for Chronic Constipation: A Perspective Review.

Ortego-Isasa I, Francisco Ortega-Moran J, Lozano H, Stieglitz T, Sanchez-Margallo F, Uson-Gargallo J Biomedicines. 2024; 12(3).

PMID: 38540095 PMC: 10967790. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12030481.

The effect of abdominal functional electrical stimulation on bowel function in multiple sclerosis: a cohort study.

Lin S, Butler J, Boswell-Ruys C, Hoang P, Jarvis T, Gandevia S Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021; 6(3):2055217320941530.

PMID: 34691757 PMC: 8529907. DOI: 10.1177/2055217320941530.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation for defecation disorders.

Bocchini R, Chiarioni G, Corazziari E, Pucciani F, Torresan F, Alduini P Tech Coloproctol. 2019; 23(2):101-115.

PMID: 30631977 DOI: 10.1007/s10151-018-1921-z.

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Functional Constipation in Korea, 2015 Revised Edition.

Shin J, Jung H, Lee T, Jo Y, Lee H, Song K J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016; 22(3):383-411.

PMID: 27226437 PMC: 4930295. DOI: 10.5056/jnm15185.

The Efficacy of Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Abdominal Muscles in the Treatment of Chronic Constipation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.

Singleton C, Bakheit A, Peace C Mult Scler Int. 2016; 2016:4860315.

PMID: 27200190 PMC: 4854996. DOI: 10.1155/2016/4860315.

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