Home transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to treat children with slow-transit constipation (STC)
Constipation has many causes which can be divided into two categories: Obstructed defecation and colonic hypomobility (slow-transit constipation). Causes of STC include diet, hormones, side-effect of medication and heavy metal toxicity. Treatments vary.
32 children (3-17 mean age 8.3 years) were trained to self-administer STC at home (1 hour/day for 3-6 mths) and bowel diaries, quality of life questionnaires completed and radio-nuclear colonic transit times measured before and after treatment.
With TES, defecation frequency increased, soiling frequency decreased, urge-initiated defecation improved, abdominal pain decreased and stool consistency improved in approximately 50% of children, who not only reported better quality of life scores but also had better measured colonic transit times, following treatments.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Surgery