AGA GUIDELINES Bundle (free trial)

3 Table 1. Symptom Criteria for Constipation a Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset ≥6 months prior to diagnosis. Recurrent abdominal pain, on average, ≥1 day per week in the last 3 months, associated with ≥2 of the following criteria: 1. Improved with defecation 2. Associated with a change in frequency of stool 3. Associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool IBS with predominant constipation (IBS-C): More than one-fourth (25%) of bowel movements with Bristol stool form types 1 or 2 and less than one-fourth (25%) of bowel movements with Bristol stool form types 6 or 7. Alternative for epidemiolog y or clinical practice: Patient reports that abnormal bowel movements are usually constipation (like type 1 or 2 in the picture of Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), see Figure 1A). Functional Constipation (FC) b FC is a functional bowel disorder in which symptoms of difficult, infrequent, or incomplete defecation predominate. Patients with FC should not meet IBS criteria. Although abdominal pain and/or bloating may be present, they are not predominant symptoms. Symptom onset should occur ≥6 months before diagnosis, and symptoms should be present during the last 3 months. General Definition of Constipation • infrequent bowel movements, typically fewer than 3 per week and persistent • hard stools • a feeling of incomplete evacuation • abdominal discomfort, bloating, and distention • excessive straining • a sense of anorectal blockage during defecation • need for manual maneuvers during defecation Defecatory disorders Prolonged and excessive straining before elimination • When evacuatory defects are pronounced, soft stools and even enema fluid may be difficult to pass. Need for perineal or vaginal pressure to allow stools to be passed or direct digital evacuation of stools Diagnosis requires anorectal tests (manometry, rectal balloon expulsion, or defecography [barium or MRI]) suggestive of a defecatory disorder Normal transit constipation (NTC) Normal colonic transit and anorectal functions Slow transit constipation (STC) Slow colonic transit and normal anorectal functions Combination Disorders Some patients may have combination or overlap disorders (eg, STC with defecatory disorders), perhaps even associated with features of irritable bowel syndrome. a Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset ≥6 months before diagnosis. b For research studies, patients meeting criteria for OIC should not be given a diagnosis of FC because it is difficult to distinguish between opioid side effects and other causes of constipation. However, clinicians recognize that these 2 conditions might overlap.

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