WGO Practice Guideline - Constipation
Title: Constipation
Definition
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease.
The patient's view. Different patients have different perceptions of symptoms. Some patients regard constipation as straining (52%), while for others, it means hard, pellet-like stools (44%) or an inability to defecate when desired (34%), or infrequent defecation (33%).
The clinical view. There is constipation if patients who do not take laxatives report at least two of the following in any 12-week period during the previous 12 months (the Rome Criteria):
- Fewer than three bowel movements (BMs) per week
- Hard stool in more than 25% of BMs
- A sense of incomplete evacuation in more than 25% of BMs
- Excessive straining in more than 25% of BMs
- A need for digital manipulation to facilitate evacuation
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