Constipation Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential benefit of adding probiotics to the standard treatment for children who present to the emergency department with acute constipation. Before evaluating probiotics as a single therapy, the investigators believe it is prudent to evaluate for added benefit first. Specifically, they seek to determine if adding probiotics decreases the length of time to normal stool frequency, decreases the number of days with abdominal pain/cramping, and improves time to normal eating/drinking. 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

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 primary aim of this study will be to determine if a respiratory muscle training program that includes both inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and expiratory muscle training (EMT), targeted at improving respiratory muscle performance-based measures combined with patient education about breathing on the toilet will improve patient satisfaction scores in individuals with chronic constipation (CC). 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

Minimally-invasive surgery, either laparoscopic or robotic, is commonly used in urology. Several urologic procedures including prostatectomy, radical nephrectomy, and partial nephrectomy are now commonly performed robotically. Patients undergoing these procedures often have delayed return of bowel function and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea/vomiting, abdominal distension, and bloating for several days to weeks after surgery. Postoperative stool softeners and laxatives are routinely used in an effort to minimize these symptoms, with varying degrees of success. The aim of this study will be to evaluate whether the use of a preoperative osmotic laxative will be beneficial in improving recovery of bowel function and alleviating postoperative gastrointestinal complaints in patients undergoing these procedures. Patients will be randomized to either receive or not receive three days of polyethylene glycol (PEG, also known as MiraLAX) on the three days before surgery. Patients in both groups will receive the same postoperative bowel regimen including scheduled PEG both in the hospital and upon discharge until first bowel movement. Patients will be given a questionnaire and diary to record their postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms and time to first bowel movement. These questionnaires and diaries will then be analyzed to determine differences in time to first bowel movement and gastrointestinal complaints during their recovery from 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

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

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) in decreasing constipation symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). A second but optional aim is to determine if OMM changes the bacterial flora of the mouth and gut. OMM is a safe and gentle manual treatment provided by osteopathic physicians. All participants will receive OMM during the second half of the eleven week trial. Read Less

This is a virtual single-arm trial that will last 12 weeks. Participants will take the drops daily and complete questionnaires at Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12. Gut health, bowel movements, stool looseness, constipation, bloating, and regularity will be evaluated at the Baseline and at each check-in. Likert scale responses will be statistically compared from Baseline to each check-in. Participant responses and product feedback will be presented as percentage scores. 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

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