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Transabdominal electrical stimulation (TES) for the treatment of slow-transit constipation (STC)

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Abstract

Slow-transit constipation (STC) is a newly described subtype of intractable constipation in children which we originally identified with deficiency of substance P in axons supplying the proximal colonic muscle. When nuclear transit studies became available, the patients were found to have slow proximal colonic transit, and responded to antegrade enemas. Using the appendicostomy, we found that there was reduced frequency in propagating sequences throughout the colon. We began testing whether transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) could improve motility and symptoms, and over several trials have now shown that TES is remarkably effective in treating children with STC, with long-lasting effects. TES holds promise for treating STC, as well as a range of gastrointestinal motility disorders.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge assistance from Brooke King for providing nuclear transit study images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch Childrens Research Laboratory, F Douglas Stephens Surgical Research Group, Melbourne, Australia

    John M. Hutson, Lauren Dughetti, Lefteris Stathopoulos & Bridget R. Southwell

  2. Urology Department, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia

    John M. Hutson

  3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    John M. Hutson & Bridget R. Southwell

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  1. John M. Hutson
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  2. Lauren Dughetti
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  3. Lefteris Stathopoulos
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  4. Bridget R. Southwell
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Correspondence to John M. Hutson.

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Hutson, J.M., Dughetti, L., Stathopoulos, L. et al. Transabdominal electrical stimulation (TES) for the treatment of slow-transit constipation (STC). Pediatr Surg Int 31, 445–451 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-015-3681-4

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