Motility Disorders of the Colon

Lee, Sang Jeon

Abstract

Human colonic motor activity is quite a complex issue and is a relatively difficult topic to investigate, still only partly understood and investigated, due to anatomic and physiological difficulties. Colonic motility measurement are hampered by the relative inaccessibility of the colon, especially in the unprepared state. Major motor events are infrequent, necessitating long observation periods. Moreover, correlating intraluminal pressure changes with stool transport is difficult. Disturbances of normal colonic motor activity may interfere with healthy colonic physiologic function. The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for colonic motility disorders are still less understood. In recent years, however, some more data have been obtained, even in proximal segments. These data have helped in elucidating, although only in part, some pathophysiological mechanisms of colonic motility disorders. In this review article, after a brief of relevant normal aspects of colorectal motility in man, we limit our discussion to more common motility disorders involving the colon and rectum. In particular, what is known or hypothesized regarding the underlying pathophysiology of slow-transit constipation, diverticular diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal pseudo-obstruction is reviewed.