Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Jun;104(3):565-578. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2023.11.007.Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Mary T O'Donnell ¹, Sarah M Haviland ²

Author information

¹Department of General Surgery Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Colon and Rectal Surgery Division, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA. Electronic address: Mary.t.odonnell.mil@health.mil.

²Department of General Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.

Abstract

Constipation encompasses symptoms of decreased colonic motility or difficulty with the defecation process. As a broad definition, this can be inclusive of functional constipation (FC) or colonic inertia, obstructed defecation (OD), and irritable bowel syndrome-constipation type (IBS-CS). After excluding IBS-C, FC and OD diagnosis and management require a multidisciplinary approach often involving nutritionists, pelvic floor therapists, urogynecologists, and colon and rectal surgeons. Differentiating the presence or absence of each can direct therapy and prognosticate chances for improvement in this often complex combination of disorders.