Constipation Clinical Trials

The overall objective of this study is to determine the effect of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on children with constipation due to pelvic floor dyssynergia. Our main hypothesis is that PTNS effectively treats children with constipation secondary to pelvic floor dyssynergia through modulation of anorectal function. We will perform a single-center, randomized controlled pilot study comparing PTNS to sham stimulation in children with constipation secondary to pelvic floor dyssynergia. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the use of a laxative before surgery in women having surgery to fix pelvic prolapse that do not have constipation. The main question it aims to answer is: Does use of a laxative before surgery lessen the discomfort of bowel movements after surgery? Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires before and after surgery. Researchers will compare using the laxative before and after surgery versus only after surgery to see if there is less discomfort with bowel movements after surgery. Read Less

Constipation affects 12-19% of Americans. Pelvic floor dyssynergia is considered to play an important role in constipation but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood in individual patients. The investigators have developed a novel device named Fecobionics that provide detailed mapping of physiological parameters during defecation. The aim of the study is to use Fecobionics to assess anorectal function in dyssynergia patients and monitor and predict the outcome of the biofeedback therapy. Read Less

Project is a trial, in which women undergoing vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse will be randomized 1:1 to a postoperative bowel regimen of either oral senna or rectal bisacodyl suppository. Read Less

Postoperative constipation affects up to a third of women undergoing minimally invasive (MIS) gynecologic surgery and is a major source of anxiety and discomfort. The average time to first bowel movement after gynecologic surgery is about 2 to 4 days and some factors responsible for this include anesthesia inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal motility, opioid pain medication use, chronic NSAID use and anatomic manipulation. There are no established regimens to manage postoperative constipation after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Two studies evaluating the implementation of postoperative bowel regimen with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and with Senna and Docusate found no significant impact on postoperative bowel function. There have been no studies looking at the effect of preoperative bowel regimens on postoperative bowel function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate postoperative bowel function after minimally invasive hysterectomy in women receiving a preoperative 10-day bowel regimen of PEG daily. Read Less

Constipation is a very common problem. Western style toilets that are nearly universal in the United States require the person to sit on the toilet. However, results from uncontrolled studies suggests that a squatting posture (as prevalent in many foreign countries) may be better at facilitating evacuation compared to a Western style commode. One uncontrolled, unpublished study suggests that a footstool improved bowel symptoms in nearly 98% of 153 constipated participants. Hence, the investigators propose to evaluate the benefits of a footstool on symptoms and anorectal functions in constipated patients. Hypothesis: the regular squatting assist device (7 inches) but not a sham device (2 inches tall) will improve symptoms of constipation. Read Less

This study will evaluate changes in the fecal microbiome in constipated pediatric patients before and after antegrade continence enema placement and initiation of antegrade enema flushes. Subjects will have their microbiome sequenced prior to placement by obtaining a fecal sample. Pre-antegrade continence enema placement results will be compared to fecal samples obtained at 0, 4, 8 months after placement of the antegrade continence enema and initiation of miralax or golytely flushes to look for changes in bacterial diversity. Read Less

Develop a registry (list of patients) with accurate clinical motility diagnosis. This registry will help the doctors to identify the patients with specific disease conditions. It will also help in promoting future research in gastroenterology motility disorders Read Less

Researchers are trying to better understand why constipation occurs and improve the tests for diagnosing these conditions. Read Less

Constipation is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been associated with their adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes; however, little is known about the effects of constipation treatment on clinical outcomes nor on outcome-related biochemical and microbiological parameters in patients with CKD. The investigators aim to test the feasibility of delivering an intervention with constipation treatment and determine its effects on changes in clinical, biochemical, and microbiological parameters in patients with CKD and constipation. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine whether transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) alters systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related colonic and anorectal physiology by enhancing autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. The study will examine the effects of TEA on slow colonic transit (SCT) and rectal hyposensitivity (RH), to examine whether TEA improves autonomic dysfunction and modulates inflammatory pathways. Read Less

Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) have neurogenic bowel disorders which is associated with significant morbidity. The negative impact of bowel complications is often at the top of the list of problems reported by persons with SCI. Despite the magnitude of the problem of bowel dysfunction in persons with SCI, and the associated reduction in quality of life, this condition has yet to be effectively treated. The investigators have developed a novel dual drug combination to elicit a safe and predictable bowel evacuation (BE). The ability to move the bowel contents along to the rectum was severely impaired primary because of poor gut contractions on the left side of the colon, as shown by our team of investigators. To address this problem, a dual medication combination (neostigmine and glycopyrrolate) was developed that safely and predictably caused the bowel to empty after delivering these drugs into a vein (intravenously) or into the muscle bed (intramuscularly). Because no one likes needles, and because of the practical limits of administering medications on a routine basis by the use of needles, especially in persons with SCI because of their other health considerations, the investigators have devised a new approach: driving these medications across the skin and into the circulation of the body by applying an electrical current that is too small to feel (iontophoresis). The proposed research project to determine the safety of positively charged compounds (e.g., vitamin B12, NEO, and GLY) administered transcutaneously by the prototype wireless ION device and to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of transcutaneous administration of NEO and GLY by the wireless ION device to a commercially available wired ION device. The potential administration of any number of other positively charged agents by this wireless prototype may be a clinically relevant outcome of this work. The ability to use a wireless ION device is far more practical for patients to use, especially those with SCI, which will permit the self-administration of these agents in the home setting to induce a bowel evacuation. Read Less