Defecation function and quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation after colectomy

Table 1 Demographic data from 30 patients with slow-transit constipation, n (%)

Sex
Female	26 (86.7)
Male	4 (13.3)
Age, yr (range)	50.5 (25–77)
Duration of disease, yr (range)	11.8 (2–33)
Length of hospital stay, d (range)	9 (6–28)
X-ray investigation results
Delayed colonic transit	30 (100)
Redundant colon	26 (86.7)
Internal rectal prolapse	25 (83.3)
Rectocele	8 (26.7)
Colonoscopy results
Melanosis coli	5 (16.7)
Previous abdominal or pelvic floor surgery	20 (66.7)
Transanal surgery (hemorrhoidectomy, PPH)	11 (36.7)
Gynecologic surgery	9 (30.0)
Appendectomy	3 (10)
Sigmoidectomy	1 (3.3)
Rectopexy	1 (3.3)
Cholecystectomy	1 (3.3)
Surgical procedure
Total colectomy with IRA	23 (76.7)
Subtotal colectomy with CRA	7 (23.3)
Operative approach
Laparoscopy	18 (60.0)
Hand-assisted laparoscopy	7 (23.3)
Single incisional laparoscopy	3 (10.0)
Robotic-assisted	2 (6.7)

IRA: Including ileorectal anastomosis; CRA: Cecorectal anastomosis.

Table 2 Defecation function of patients with slow-transit constipation following surgery at each time point

	Preoperative	Postoperative
		3 mo	6 mo	1 yr	2 yr
Number of patients, follow-up	30	30	30	30	29
Bowel movements/wk	1.2 ± 0.6	42.5 ± 22.3a	33.0 ± 21.6a	31.3 ± 19.6a	27.9 ± 20.5a2
WC	20.4 ± 4.1	5.9 ± 3.4a	6.2 ± 4.1a	5.5 ± 3.4a	5.0 ± 3.7a1
WI	-	2.7 ± 3.6	1.0 ± 2.1a	1.2 ± 2.7a	1.1 ± 2.1c2
Abdominal pain	17 (56.7)	18 (60)	15 (50.0)	12 (40)	6 (20.7)a3
Bloating	29 (96.7)	14 (46.7)a	15 (50.0)a	12 (40)a	7 (24.1)a3
Diarrhea	-	23 (76.7)	18 (60)	17 (56.7)	14 (48.3)c3
Straining	30 (100.0)	3 (10.0)a	6 (20.0) a	5 (16.7)a	5 (17.2)a3
Laxative	29 (96.7)	0 (0)a	0 (0)a	0 (0)a	1 (3.5)a3
Enema use	21 (70)	2 (6.7)a	5 (16.7)a	3 (10.0)a	2 (6.9)a3

Data are shown as the mean ± SD or n (%).

¹Paired samples t-test.

²Wilcoxon rank sum test.

³χ² test.

^aP < 0.05 vs preoperative data.

^cP < 0.05 vs 3-mo follow-up data. WC: Wexner constipation scale; WI: Wexner incontinence scale.

Table 3 Quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation following surgery at each time point

	Preoperative	Postoperative
		3 mo	6 mo	1 yr	2 yr
GIQLI	77.8 ± 17.5	109.7 ± 21.2a	115.0 ± 20.7a	121.3 ± 20.3a	123.6 ± 17.5a1
SF-36 sphere
Physical function	83.8 ± 20.2	86.3 ± 16.1	90.7 ± 9.7	91.8 ± 10.9	92.2 ± 11.52
Role physical	32.5 ± 46.0	66.7 ± 44.7a	78.3 ± 38.7a	74.4 ± 37.7a	76.7 ± 38.9a1
Role emotional	30.0 ± 46.6	67.8 ± 44.2a	87.8 ± 28.4a	87.8 ± 30.9a	81.6 ± 36.3a2
Physical pain	59.2 ± 31.8	72.2 ± 24.7a	77.4 ± 28.7a	83.9 ± 25.6a	88.9 ± 23.5a1
Vitality	49.0 ± 28.9	71.7 ± 27.4a	73.5 ± 25.6a	78.0 ± 26.1a	80.9 ± 23.0a1
Mental health	49.5 ± 26.5	74.0 ± 25.9a	76.3 ± 26.6a	83.7 ± 25.1a	86.2 ± 21.3a1
Social function	54.6 ± 39.3	64.6 ± 31.2	72.1 ± 30.0a	80.8 ± 31.6a	87.1 ± 24.0a2
General health	29.4 ± 26.6	55.6 ± 27.5a	56.6 ± 28.3a	66.6 ± 33.0a	71.1 ± 30.0a1

Data are shown as mean ± SD or n (%).

¹Paired samples t-test.

²Wilcoxon rank sum test.

^aP < 0.05 vs preoperative data. GIQLI: Gastrointestinal quality of life index; SF: Short form.