RSS Feeds
Clinical Management of the Constipated Patient
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
TO THE EDITOR:
The article by Camilleri and colleagues [1] provides an excellent review of chronic constipation. In their review of current treatment options for severe constipation, the authors mention the study of Pemberton and coworkers [2], in which patients followed for 2 years had a mean of 4 bowel movements per day with no incontinence. I caution readers that, despite these excellent results, surgical ileorectostomy for severe constipation in the setting of a slow transit time should be done with caution. A patient seen in my practice was treated 3 years ago with ileorectostomy and now has an average of 16 bowel movements per day, sometimes with incontinence, and has experienced substantial limitations to her lifestyle. I caution physicians recommending this surgery to be aware of the severe complications that may ensue.
Mark P. Runde
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
- Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians
