Diagnostic Tests in Pediatric Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms in children. With a median reported prevalence of 12%, it accounts for about 25% of all pediatric gastroenterology consultations. The majority of children suffers functional constipation and do not usually require any diagnostic testing. For those children not responding to conventional medical treatment or in the presence of a more significant clinical picture, however, an accurate instrumental assessment is usually recommended to evaluate either the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms or a possible organic etiology. The present review analyzes the possible diagnostic investigations for severely constipated children, focusing on their actual indications and their utility in clinical practice. Over the last decade, there has been a remarkable increase in our knowledge of normal and abnormal colonic and anorectal motility in children, and a number of different techniques to measure transit and motility have been developed and are discussed in this narrative review. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Renato Tambucci, MD, Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy (e-mails: renato.tambucci@gmail.com; renato.tambucci@opbg.net). Received 24 August, 2017 Accepted 13 December, 2017 Dr Tambucci and Dr Quitadamo equally contributed as First Authors. Supportive foundations: This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (www.jpgn.org). © 2017 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,

from Gastroenterology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2CkCuqi
via IFTTT