Novel therapies for constipation

Table 1 Bristol stool chart

Type	Description
1	Separate hard lumps
2	Sausage shaped but lumpy
3	Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface
4	Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
5	Soft blobs with clear cut edges
6	Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
7	Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid

Table 2 Rome III criteria

1 Straining at defaecation on at least 1/4 of occasions.

2 Stools that are lumpy/hard on at least 1/4 of occasions.

3 Sensation of incomplete evacuation on at least 1/4 of occasions.

4 Manual manoeuvres to facilitate at least 25% of defalcations.

5 Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage at least 25% of defalcations.

6 Fewer than 3 bowel movements a week.