Gastrointestinal transit abnormalities are frequently detected in patients with unexplained GI symptoms at a tertiary centre.

• The aim of this prospective study was to analyse the yield and utility of a gastrointestinal (GI) transit measurement procedure in clinical practice. Patients referred by gastroenterologists to a tertiary centre for detailed transit measurements were prospectively included. All together 243 patients were enrolled. Body mass index was recorded. The patients were categorized according to the predominant symptom into five groups: diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The patients recorded their bowel movements and GI symptoms daily during the week before the transit measurement. Percentiles 5 and 95 of the transit values in 83 healthy subjects served as reference values. Widespread abnormalities were found in the five patient groups and 63% of the patients had at least one transit abnormality. The abnormalities were more frequent in men compared with women. Patients with underweight had more motility disturbances compared with other patients. In male and female patients with vomiting a significant delay of transit in the ascending colon was observed compared with healthy subjects. Large-scale transit measurements frequently detect transit abnormalities in clinical practice and may elucidate the relationship between some GI symptoms and abnormal motility.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Aged

Body Mass Index

Colon

physiopathology

Defecation

physiology

Dose-Response Relationship

Radiation

Female

Fluoroscopy

Gastric Emptying

physiology

Gastrointestinal Diseases

epidemiology

physiopathology

radiography

Gastrointestinal Transit

physiology

Humans

Ileum

physiopathology

Male

Middle Aged

Prospective Studies

Vomiting

physiopathology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)