The Clinical Value of Radiopaque Markers Transit Studies in Childhood Constipation.

In order to study the value of gastrointestinal transit test(GITT) in diagnosis of functional constipation in children with radiopaque markers(ROM). Radiopaque markers were given orally to 28 patients with functional constipation and 68 normal children at 8 am on days 1,Then a plain abdominal film taken at 24,48,72h and 12,24,48h respectively.Each film was divided into right colon(RC),left colon(LC) and rectosigmoid(RS) areas using bony landmarks,and the marker content of each area counted. The TGITT,M ITT,CTT of the normal children were (23.6±5.6)h,(9.9±2.4)h and (14.8±4.8)h respectively.The segmental colnic transit time include:the right colonic transit time(RCTT),the left colonic transit time(LCTT) and rectosigmoid colonic transit time(RSTT).The RCTT,LCTT and RSTT were (7.3±3.1)h,(3.4±2.8)h,(4.1±3.2)h respectively.In the constipated children,The TGITT,M ITT,RCTT,LCTT and RSTT were significantly longer than those in controls[(80.4±23.1)h vs (23.6±5.6)h,(20.7±8.6)h vs (9.9±2.4)h,(20.3±7.5)h vs (7.3±3.1)h,(12.8±3.1)h vs (3.4±2.8)h,(26.8±6.4)h vs (4.1±3.2)h, P 0.01]. [Conclusions] With the TGITT and CTT,constipation can be divided into three types:slow transit constipation,outlet constipation and mixed type.It could provide a reliable basis for the diagnosis of function constipation due to dysfunction of the total gastrointestinal or segmental colon.And this method is of practical value in confirmation of the disease cause of constipation and its treatment.