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Interferential therapy: a new treatment for slow transit constipation. A pilot study in adults
Author(s) -
Queralto M.,
Vitton V.,
Bouvier M.,
Abysique A.,
Portier G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1111/codi.12052
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , constipation , transit time , quality of life (healthcare) , prospective cohort study , gastroenterology , nursing , transport engineering , engineering
Aim The study aimed to assess, for the first time, the effectiveness of interferential therapy ( IFT ) in the treatment of slow transit constipation in adults and its impact on the quality of life. Method All consecutive patients with slow transit constipation diagnosed by symptomology and a colonic transit time ( CTT ) of > 100 h measured with radiopaque markers were included in this prospective study. IFT was performed for 1 h/day over 3 months. Clinical improvement was based on the stool diary and the K nowles– E ccersley– S cott S ymptom and C leveland C linic C onstipation S cores. Q uality of life was assessed with the G astrointestinal Q uality of L ife I ndex questionnaire. Results Eleven patients with a median age of 51 years were included. At the end of the follow‐up period, seven (63.6%) had significantly improved after IFT with a median of 0.66 stools per week [interquartile range ( IQR ) 0.33–0.66] before treatment and 1.66 ( IQR 1.33–1.66) after ( P = 0.007). The K nowles– E ccersley– S cott S ymptom score changed from 30 ( IQR 27–33) before treatment to 19 ( IQR 17–26) after treatment ( P = 0.005) and the C leveland Cl inic C onstipation Score from 26 ( IQR 25–28) to 17 ( IQR 13–24; P = 0.005). The CTT improved from 103 h ( IQR 101–113) to 98 h ( IQR 94–107; P = 0.02). The G astrointestinal Q uality of L ife I ndex score improved from 60 ( IQR 57–63) to 95 ( IQR 68–100; P = 0.005). Conclusion IFT is a new non‐invasive treatment for slow transit constipation. Further studies to confirm these results with longer follow‐up are necessary.