Constipation and Functional Bowel Disease

Functional disorders of the bowel are common and have significant impacts on patients' daily lives. Although most of these conditions are not treated surgically, colorectal surgeons must be knowledgeable of the evaluation and management of these challenging patients. In this issue of Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, we cover several facets of the evaluation and management of constipation and functional bowel disorders.

First, Dr. Vrees, a colorectal fellow, and Dr. Weiss, a colorectal surgeon from Cleveland Clinic Florida, discuss the evaluation of constipated patients. Then Dr. Siegel, a gastrointestinal (GI) fellow, and Dr. Di Palma, Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of South Alabama, provide guidance on the medical management of constipation. I then summarize the reported experience with surgical management of constipation. Dr. Neal Ellis, a colorectal surgeon from the University of Alabama in Mobile, describes the challenge of treating outlet obstruction.

Dr. Nell Maloney, a surgical resident, and H. David Vargas, a colorectal surgeon in Chesapeake, VA, discuss acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Dr. Reina, a GI fellow, and James Smith, Chairman of Gastroenterology at Ochsner, describe the medical management options for irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Melissa Times, a colorectal fellow, and Craig Reickert, a colon and rectal surgeon from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, discuss functional anorectal disorders. Dr. Farshid Araghizadeh, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Mississippi in Jackson, provides a review of fecal impaction. Finally, Dr. Dinesh Pashankar, a pediatric gastroenterologist from Yale University, covers the evaluation and management of childhood constipation.

As the Guest Editor, I would like to thank all the contributors for their excellent efforts, and I hope our readers find this issue helpful and informative.