Alan H. Maurer - Gastrointestinal Motility, Part 2: Small-Bowel and Colon Transit
Alan H. Maurer - Gastrointestinal Motility, Part 2: Small-Bowel and Colon Transit
Alan H. Maurer - Gastrointestinal Motility, Part 2: Small-Bowel and Colon Transit
Summary:
In this continuing education article, the focus is on gastrointestinal motility, specifically small-bowel and colon transit studies. The article emphasizes the importance of gastrointestinal transit scintigraphy as a noninvasive method for determining motility disorders affecting the stomach, small bowel, or colon. It discusses the correlation between symptoms and motility disorders, as well as the indications for small-bowel and colon transit scintigraphy in various conditions such as dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic constipation.
(Page 1)
The article highlights the complexity of measuring small-bowel transit due to various factors affecting transit time and patterns. It discusses the methods used for assessing small-bowel transit, including the measurement of orocecal transit time and the significance of activity accumulation in the terminal ileum as an indicator of motility. The importance of whole-gut transit scintigraphy in evaluating patients with upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms is also emphasized, especially in cases where there is suspicion of a functional cause.
(Page 2)
Colon transit studies are explored in detail, discussing the different patterns of slow colon transit and their implications in patients with constipation. The article explains the methods used for measuring colon transit, including the use of radiopaque markers and the wireless motility capsule. It also delves into the practical applications of whole-gut transit scintigraphy in diagnosing motility disorders and guiding patient care.
(Page 3)
