Table 3.
Characteristics of the 47 included studies on any treatment options for adult patients with slow‐transit constipation
| n (%) | n (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Study type† | Intervention | ||
| Case report and case study | 17 (36) | Stimulation therapy§ | 16 (34) |
| Uncontrolled trial | 15 (32) | Resectional surgical techniques¶ | 13 (28) |
| Retrospective cohort study | 1 (2) | Pharmacologic agents†† | 11 (24) |
| (Non)randomized controlled trial | 14 (30) | Biofeedback‡‡ | 3 (6) |
| Fecal microbiota transplantation‡‡ | 2 (4) | ||
| Publication year | Abdominal wall massage‡‡ | 1 (2) | |
| 1989–1996 | 9 (19) | Body acupuncture‡‡ | 1 (2) |
| 1997–2007 | 15 (32) | ||
| 2008–2018 | 23 (49) | Comparator | |
| No control | 30 (64) | ||
| Population‡ | Placebo | 13 (28) | |
| Adults (18–64 years) | 20 (43) | Fiber | 1 (2) |
| Elderly (> 64 years) | 1 (2) | Conventional treatment | 1 (2) |
| Adults and elderly (18+ years) | 26 (55) | Control is different patient group | 1 (2) |
| Subtotal colectomy | 1 (2) |
The study type taxonomy of Shawhan et al.70 and Solomon and McLeod71 was adapted for comparative purposes of this study, informed by the book of Gerstman.72
The UN age classification was adapted for the purpose of this study.73
Includes sacral nerve stimulation/sacral neuromodulation (n = 10; 21%); transcutaneous/transabdominal electrical stimulation/interferential therapy (n = 2; 4%); percutaneous nerve stimulation (n = 2; 4%); external magnetic sacral dermatome stimulation (n = 1; 2%); and colonic electrical stimulation with intramuscular electrode placement (n = 1; 2%).
Includes total colectomy (n = 6; 13%); subtotal colectomy (n = 5; 11%); appendicostomy (n = 1; 2%); and a combination of techniques (n = 1; 2%).
Includes fiber (n = 3; 6%); prokinetic agents (n = 2; 4%); colchicine (n = 2; 4%); probiotics (n = 1; 2%); synbiotics (n = 1; 2%); oral vancomycin (n = 1; 2%); and misoprostol (n = 1; 2%).
The interventions biofeedback, fecal microbiota transplantation, abdominal wall massage, and body acupuncture form the fourth intervention category “other treatment modalities.”