Question 13: What Should Be The Sequence Of Investigations For A Patient Who Is Being Considered For Colectomy Due To Chronic Constipation? (continued)
Erica Roberson, MD; Arnold Wald, MD
Colectomy is an important treatment option for severe, intractable constipation in a small percentage of patients with exclusive colon dysmotility not responsive to medical treatment. As such, patients should be carefully selected in order to increase the chances of a successful outcome from this surgery. Patients who will benefit most are those with lifestyle-altering constipation from colonic inertia, without generalized dysmotility of the remaining gastrointestinal tract and without anorectal dysfunction. Symptoms of constipation alone do not distinguish patients with colonic inertia…