5 Cases of Surgically Treated Colonic Inertia

ABSTRACT

We reviewed the cases of five patients with colonic inertia who were treated with total abdominal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis at the Wonkwang University Hospital from June 1994 to november 1995. All of the 5 patients with chronic constipation underwent, a colon study, colonoscopy, anorectal manometry, defecography, balloon expulsion test, and a study of the total and segmental colonic transit of radioopaque markers to diagnose the colonic inertia. The ratio of male to female was 14, the mean age 58 years, the average duration of symptom 41.8 months, and the average time between bowel movements 18.4 days. There was no specific operative morbidity and mortality and the average hospital stay was 14 days. At follow-up ranging from 3 months to 20 months they had excellent stool control and 1-2 bowel movements per 1-2 days. All were satisfied with the procedure.