Table 4.5Total and segmental colonic transit times (CTT)

Study and statistics reportedTotal CTT (hours)Right colon TT (hours)Left colon TT (hours)Rectosigmoid TT (hours)
PatientsControlsPatientsControlsPatientsControl sPatientsControls
De Lorijn, 2004 (median, 25 to 75th centiles)58 (37 to 92)-10 (5 to 16)-10 (5 to 18)-32 (18 to 63)-
Benninga, 1995 (mean, range)

(mean and upper limit mean ± 2SD for healthy controls)
PCa:
79.3 (2.4 to 384)

Isolated ES:
41.4 (16.6 to 104.4)
RAPa:
32.5 (4.8 to 69.6)

Healthy controlsb:
29. 0 (62)
PC:
13.2 (<1.2 to 60)

Isolated ES:
7.9 (<1.2 to 26.4)
RAP:
7.7 (1.2 to 21.6)

Healthy controls:
7.7 (18)
PC:
16.1 (<1.2 to 11.4)

Isolated ES:
6.8 (<1.2 to 25.2)
RAP:
7.0 (1.2 to 25.2)

Healthy controls:
8.7 (20)
PC:
49.7 (<1.2 to 226.8)

Isolated ES:
26.7 (4.8 to 93.6)
RAP:
18.9 (1.2 to 49.2)

Healthy controls:
12. (34)
Gutierrez, 2002
(mean ± SD, ranges)
49.57 ± 25.38 (15.6 to 122.4)29.08 ± 8.30 (14.4 to 50)9.53 ± 9.07 (2.4 to 36)7.52 ± 5.75 (2.4 to 15.6)15.41 ± 13.13 (2.4 to 32)6.60 ± 6.20 (2.4 to 24)24.20 ± 16.77 (4.8 to 69.6)14.96 ± 8.70 (2.4 to 19.2)
Papadopoulou, 1994No accurate figures reported-No accurate figures reported-No accurate figures reported-No accurate figures reported-
Corazziari, 1985
(mean ± SD, range)
No accurate figures reported25.0 ± 3.7 (19 to 33)No accurate figures reportedNo accurate figures reportedNo accurate reported figures
Benninga, 1996
(median, range)
PSTCc:
189 (104.4 to 380.4)

NDTCc:
46.8 (3.6 to 99.6)
-PSTC:
27.0 (3.6 to 60)

NDTC:
8.4 (0 to 32.4)
-PSTC:
37.2 (0 to 110.4)

NDTC:
7.2 (0 to 36.0)
-PSTC:
116 (49.2 to 226.8)

NDTC:
27.0 (0 to 90.0)
-
Yang, 2005
(mean ± SD)
59.9 ± 2.314.8 ± 0.820.3 ± 1.27.3 ± 1.112.8 ± 1.73.4 ± 0.826.8 ± 1.44.1 ± 1.2
Cucchiara, 1984
(mean ± SD, range)
Patients with soiling:
58 ± 14.3 (36 to 86)

Patients without soiling:
61.1 ± 15 (36 to 96)
25.6 ± 3.7 (19 to 33)No accurate figures reportedNo accurate figures reportedNo accurate figures reported
Martelli, 1998
(median, range)

(Controls' values taken from Arhan et al., 1983)
C+E patientsd:
67.2 (2 to 168)

C+4d patients:
54.6 (9 to 168)

C-4d patients:
49.6 (8 to 161)
22.8 (9.4 to 56.4)C+E patients:
14 (0 to 144)

C+4 patients:
12 (0 to 48)

C-4 patients:
14.8 (0 to 96)
7.2 (0.6 to 19.2)C+E patients:
13.6 (0 to 96)

C+4 patients:
12 (0 to 96)

C-4 patients:
12.4 (0 to 72)
7.4 (1.2 to 22.8)C+E patients:
30.2 (0 to 142)

C+4 patients:
26.4 (0 to 108)

C-4 patients:
18.4 (0 to 106)
10.4 (1.21 to 34.2)
Arhan, 1983 France
(min; mean ± SD)
Not measured13:24 ± 1:57:10 ± 1:413:49 ± 1:377:37 ± 1:330:22 ± 2:4211:4 ± 1:5
Staiano, 1993 Italy
(mean ± SD)
106.4 ± 6.198.6 ± 5.1 (FFR)No accurate figures reported but N.S differences between 2 groups7.3 ± 1.33.0 ± 1.0 (FFR)No accurate figures reported but N.S differences between 2 groups
Zaslavsky, 2004 Brazil
(mean ± SD, median and range)
62.9 ± 12.6 69 (62.9 to 12.6)30.2 ± 13.2 27.5 (10.8 to 50.4)e18.6 ± 15 13.2 (12 to 54)6.7 ± 3.9 4.8 (1.2 to 12)24.3 ± 13.7 22.8 (2.4 to 51.6)7.9 ± 7.8 7.2 (0− 28.8)20 ± 15.7 18 (0 to 54)15.6 ± 10.7 12 (3.6 to 36)
Koletzko, 1993 Switzerland
(mean ± SD)
70.0 ± 42.6-Not reported, not clear whether measured-Not reported, not clear whether measured-Not reported, not clear whether measured-
Zaslavsky, 1998 Brazil
(mean ± SD, median and range)
58.25 ± 17.46
68.4 (27.6 to 72)
30.18 ± 13.15
27.5 (10.8 to 50.4)
15.97 ± 12.48
13.7 (2.4 to 43.2)
6.74 ± 3.91
7.2 (1.2 to 12)
24.74 ± 13.39
25.7 (7.2 to 51.6)
7.94 ± 7.82
7.2 (0 to 28.8)
17.60 ± 16.25
16.6 (0 to 49.2)
15.58 ± 10.69
12 (3.6 to 36)
Bijos, 2007 Poland
(mean, estimates from a bar chart)
With faecal impaction on USf: 67

Without faecal impaction on US: 42
-With faecal impaction on US: 9

Without faecal impaction on US: 8
-With faecal impaction on US: 18

Without faecal impaction on US: 9
-With faecal impactio n on US: 32

Without faecal impactio n on US: 16
-
de Lorijn, 2005 The Netherlands
(mean)
92

(children with PC)g
37

(children with FNRFIg and FAPg)
Not reported, not clear whether measured
Cook, 2005 AustraliaValues expressed as percentage of radioactivity at different times
Vattimo, 1994 Italy
(mean ± SD)
Normal transit:
27.79 ± 4.10

Mainly rectosigmoi d retention:
53.36 ± 29.66

Prolonged transit in all segments:
62.09 ± 7.23

More prolonged transit in rectosigmoid:
92.36 ± 24.16
-Normal transit:
9.11 ± 2.53

Mainly rectosigmo id retention:
10.38 ± 2.34

Prolonged transit in all segments:
21.81 ± 5.29

More prolonged transit in rectosigmoid:
19.78 ± 9.03
-Normal transit:
9.80 ± 3.50

Mainly rectosigmo id retention:
10.40 ± 4.00

Prolonged transit in all segments:
23.32 ± 6.14

More prolonged transit in rectosigmoid:
21.05 ± 5.70
-Normal transit:
8.88 ± 4.09

Mainly rectosigmoid retention:
32.58 ± 29.64

Prolonged transit in all segments:
16.95 ± 4.52

More prolonge d transit in rectosigm oid:
51.53 ± 17.82
-
Shin, 2002 Korea, AustraliaActual figures for CTT not reported
Chitkara, 2004 USAValues expressed as percentage of radioactivity at 24 h
a

PC: paediatric constipation; isolated ES: only encopresis and/or soiling; RAP: recurrent abdominal pain

b

From Arhan et al. 1981

c

PSTC: Paediatric slow transit constipation; NDTC: normal delayed transit constipation

d

C+E = constipation and encopresis; C+4 constipation only, children >4 years; C-4 constipation only, children <4 years

e

All values for controls taken from the same children in the previous study by same authors (1998)

f

US: ultrasound

g

PC: paediatric constipation; FNRFI: functional non retentive faecal incontinence, FAP: functional abdominal pain

From: 4, Clinical investigations

Cover of Constipation in Children and Young People
Constipation in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Management of Idiopathic Childhood Constipation in Primary and Secondary Care.
NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 99.
National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (UK).
London: RCOG Press; 2010.
Copyright © 2010, National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health.

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