Journal article
Delayed colonic transit in spinal cord-injured patients measured by indium-111 Amberlite scintigraphy
The American journal of gastroenterology, Vol.90(8), pp.1295-1300
08/1995
DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1995.tb09488.x
PMID: 7639233
Abstract
Constipation is a major problem for patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). However, it is not clear whether abnormal colonic transit is restricted to the rectosigmoid region or involves the entire colon. We assessed regional colonic transit with emphasis on the ascending and transverse segments in patients with chronic SCI and compared the results with those of controls using scintigraphic techniques.
Seven patients with SCI below T1 and 10 control subjects were studied after oral ingestion of a capsule containing indium-111-labeled Amberlite (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO) pellets. The capsule was coated with a pH-sensitive polymer that prevents disintegration until it reaches the ileocecal region. Assessments of the half-time of emptying and residence time of contents in ascending and transverse segments were made, as well as an assessment of the velocity of contents throughout the entire colon, including the descending colon.
A significantly slower half-time of emptying was found in SCI patients (ascending: 29 +/- 27 hr in SCI, 6.81 +/- 3.03 hr in controls, p < 0.01; ascending + transverse: 42 +/- 12 hr in SCI, 15.3 +/- 7.16 hr in controls, p < 0.01). The residence time of the median position of the contents was significantly prolonged in SCI patients (ascending: 31 +/- 23 hr in SCI, 8.75 +/- 4.68 hr in controls, p < 0.05; transverse: 26 +/- 3 hr in SCI, 5.0 +/- 4.4 hr in controls, p < 0.05). Overall, the velocity of the median position of contents throughout the entire colon was significantly lower in SCI (0.63 +/- 0.33 cm/hr in SCI, 2.58 +/- 1.20 cm/hr in controls, p < 0.001).
Patients with chronic SCI have prolonged colonic transit that involves the entire colon. Hence, treatment of constipation in these patients may need to include prokinetic agents as well as local rectal maneuvers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Delayed colonic transit in spinal cord-injured patients measured by indium-111 Amberlite scintigraphy
- Creators
- A Keshavarzian - Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical School, Maywood, Illinois, USAW E BarnesK BruningaB NemchauskyH MermallD Bushnell
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The American journal of gastroenterology, Vol.90(8), pp.1295-1300
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1995.tb09488.x
- PMID
- 7639233
- ISSN
- 0002-9270
- eISSN
- 1572-0241
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/1995
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984318707702771
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