Irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation: Fact and fiction

Table 2 Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional defecation disorders

Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 mo with symptom onset at least 6 mo prior to diagnosis

The patient must satisfy diagnostic criteria for functional constipation

During repeated attempts to defecate must have at least two of the following:

Evidence of impaired evacuation, based on balloon expulsion test or imaging

Inappropriate contraction of the pelvicfloor muscles (e.g., anal sphincter or puborectalis) or less than 20% relaxation of basal resting sphincter pressure by manometry, imaging, or EMG

Inadequate propulsive forces assessed by manometry or imaging