Over 1,000 new cases of Hirschsprung’s disease are diagnosed in the USA every year. More than half the children treated appropriately with surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease suffer from chronic problems with constipation, incontinence, and/or abdominal pain. Even as adults, over half will experience occasional episodes of incontinence, and 10% will endure constipation unresponsive to medical […]
The main functions of the colon and anorectum (collectively known as the large intestine) are to mix and absorb water from ingested material, to store fecal wastes, and to eliminate them voluntarily at a suitable time. A wide variety of neurologic diseases (disorders involving the nervous system) can affect colonic and anorectal function and are […]
Introduction Cancer of the colon and rectum remains one of the most deadly forms of cancer. It is the third most common cancer in the United States, yet it is quite curable by surgery when found in its early stages. Since it involves the lower gastrointestinal tract, treatment of colon and rectal cancer frequently affects […]
Symptom overlap is common among several functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. For instance, care must be taken not to confuse functional dyspepsia with other common disorders that may cause upper gastrointestinal distress, like heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional abdominal bloating, and functional biliary disorders. Functional dyspepsia is identified based on symptoms. […]
Dietary and Nutritional Recommendations for Patients with Dumping Syndrome (Rapid Gastric Emptying) Dumping syndrome describes a collection of symptoms that occurs when food is emptied too quickly from the stomach. When this happens, the small intestine is filled with undigested food that is not adequately prepared to permit efficient absorption of nutrients. Dumping syndrome is […]
Eating a variety of fiber types is most beneficial to general health. Recommended dietary fiber intake for adults generally ranges between 20 to 35 grams per day. Children and fiber Children benefit from a balance of fiber in their diet. They require less than adults. For children, ages 3 to 18, the American Dietetic Association […]
CVS is a chronic disease marked by severe, recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting in a person who is otherwise healthy. CVS episodes often flip-flop with states of wellness. Vomiting may occur every 5-10 minutes for several hours during an episode. On average, CVS episodes last 3-7 days but vary with each person. An episode […]
Structure of the colon Barium enemaThere are multiple methods available to examine the structure of the colon. One method uses a contrast material that can be seen on x-ray (barium enema) to outline the anatomy of the colon. A barium enema consists of the injection of radiation-dense barium through the anus into the colon. The […]
Delayed Gastric Emptying- Gastroparesis (GP) The symptoms of delayed gastric emptying include nausea and vomiting. Poor emptying of the stomach can occur for several reasons: The outlet of the stomach (the pylorus and duodenum) may be obstructed by an ulcer or tumor, or by something large and indigestible that was swallowed. The pyloric sphincter at […]
A 12-year-old boy presents with a history of abdominal discomfort of 11 month’s duration. The discomfort is located in the right, left, and mid-upper abdomen. There is no association of the pain with activity, position, meals or food type, nor any with bowel movements. The abdominal discomfort occurred more commonly in the morning. The pain […]
Specialized testing for constipation is typically reserved for patients with chronic constipation that is severe or difficult to treat. All such patients should undergo colonoscopy or barium enema to exclude an anatomic cause as well as the basic series of blood tests to exclude abnormalities that can cause constipation. If these studies are normal, a […]
Effective treatment for constipation depends upon an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, no specific symptom(s) can be used to differentiate one cause from another, and symptoms sometimes significantly overlap. Generally, the initial treatment for someone with mild chronic constipation (CC) involves a recommendation of diet changes including increased fiber intake, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some healthcare providers […]