The motility of the pelvic colon. II. Paradoxical motility in diarrhoea and constipation.

The intraluminal pressure changes of the pelvic colon in subjects suffering from active diarrhoea have been compared with those in normal subjects and in subjects with intractable constipation. Patients studied during a phase of active diarrhoea have significantly fewer intraluminal pressure changes than normal subjects. Young patients with chronic severe constipation have a tendency to more active motility than normal subjects, but other constipated persons tend to have hypomotile records. The relationship of these pressure changes to the aetiology of diarrhoea and constipation is discussed.