대한대장항문학회

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of subtotal colectomy on patients with a diagnosis of chronic constipation. Methods: A retrospective review of 11 consecutive patients who underwent subtotal colectomy between January 1990<br>and<br>July 1999 was undertaken. Preoperative testings included complete history and physical examination, anorectal manometry, videodefecography, and colonic transit studies. Results: The 11 patients consisted of 5 men and 6 women, with a mean age of<br>44<br>(range, 25∼62) years.<br>The most common symptom was inability to defecation and mean duration of this symptom was 13.6 (range, 0.75∼45) years. Ten patients had slow colon transit and one patient had normal colon transit with anismus. All patients were followed up for<br>mean<br>duration of 33 (range, 5∼120) months. Mean bowel frequency was 4 times per day after colectomy. Nine patients were satisfied with the results of surgery and showed improvement in quality of life. One patient was less satisfied due to diarrhea<br>even<br>with<br>several times bowel movement per day. One patient felt that the operation was not so effective due to incontinence for liquid stool and 7 bowel movement per day. Three patients frequently used antidiarrheal medication after surgery. Three<br>patients<br>had<br>postoperative small bowel obstruction and were treated without surgery. Conclusion: Subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis produces a satisfactory functional outcome in the majority of patients with proven slow transit constipation.<br>