Twenty-Five Years of Pathophysiology-Based Surgery of Slow-Transit Constipation: Outcomes After Segmental…

Cohort studyJournal of clinical medicine· Jun 2026

Twenty-Five Years of Pathophysiology-Based Surgery of Slow-Transit Constipation: Outcomes After Segmental, Subtotal and Total Colectomy.

Gennaro Melone, Paolo Luffarelli, Ludovico Carbone … Valter Ripetti

Colon & Rectal SurgeryCohort studyTreatmentQ2IF 3.5

Segmental colectomy was associated with markedly lower constipation severity scores after surgery.

Twenty-Five Years of Pathophysiology-Based Surgery of Slow-Transit Constipation: Outcomes After Segmental, Subtotal and Total Colectomy.

Gennaro Melone … Valter Ripetti

Journal of clinical medicine · Jun 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Background

Idiopathic slow-transit constipation (slow-transit constipation) is a clinically significant event of chronic constipation.

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate safety and functional outcomes of partial colectomy (segmental or subtotal resection) as a potential alternative in patients with limited colonic involvement.

Methods

A retrospective observational single-center study was conducted on patients with slow-transit constipation refractory to medical and rehabilitative treatment (1998-2021).

n = 76 patients

Results

constipation severity dropped sharply after segmental colectomy

Preoperative

21.5Wexner

Postoperative

6.1Wexner

More results

On a cohort of 76 patients, 10 (13.2%) underwent total colectomy, 63 (82.9%) segmental, and 3 (3.9%) subtotal resections (left hemicolectomy).

No perioperative mortality occurred.

Overall, 30-day morbidity was 25.0%, with major complications observed in 12.1% after partial colectomy.

More results

Quality-of-life significantly improved in more than 75% of cases across all SF-36 domains.

“

Conclusion

Segmental colectomy may be a safe and effective alternative to total colectomy in patients with limited slow-transit constipation, potentially offering durable symptom relief and favorable quality-of-life outcomes.

Twenty-Five Years of Pathophysiology-Based Surgery of Slow-Transit Constipation: Outcomes After Segmental, Subtotal and Total Colectomy.

Twenty-Five Years of Pathophysiology-Based Surgery of Slow-Transit Constipation: Outcomes After Segmental, Subtotal and Total Colectomy.

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