Review of 1000 Consecutive Cases of Irritable Colon; Its Simulation of Surgical Conditions and Treatment
Abstract
The irritable colon syndrome would not be so important if medical management only were used in its treatment. Although it is well known that the symptoms may simulate any organic disease in the abdomen, we found in a series of 1000 consecutive cases that 302 operations had been done in 204 of the patients. In addition to presenting analyses of these cases, we shall attempt to clarify certain controversial features and to present certain principles of treatment.
The high incidence of this disorder as a cause of abdominal discomfort and pain warrants greater recognition than it has received in the past. The cases on which this report is based were observed during a period of only two years.
Definition
Irritable colon (spastic irritable bowel1, unstable colon2, functional bowel3, mucous colic4, mucous colitis5, etc.) is considered to be a hyper-irritable neuromuscular imbalance of the colon, sufficiently severe to cause abdominal distress. Although this condition may not shorten life, it can cause years of suffering, if not invalidism, and result in malnutrition either from the patient's elimination of essential foods in the diet, from change in gastrointestinal secretions, or from lack of absorption because of changes in motility, or a combination of various factors.
Many persons have either simple constipation or diarrhea for years without having abdominal distress. The term, “irritable colon,” is not applied in these instances. It is true that patients having irritable colon commonly complain of constipation or diarrhea but neither may be present. In other words. . .
