STOPS Trial: Total vs Subtotal Colectomy for Slow Transit Constipation

STOPS Trial: A Multicentre Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing Total Colectomy With Ileorectal Anastomosis Versus Subtotal Colectomy With Cecal-rectal Anastomosis for Slow Transit Constipation

Total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is a traditional surgical option for slow transit constipation (STC). Subtotal colectomy with caecorectal anastomosis have been reported to be a potential alternative approach. Thus, the optimal surgical option for STC is controversial.

Constipation, a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, affects 10%-15% of adults in the United States and approximately 8.2% of China's general population. Slow transit constipation (STC), accounting for 15%-42% of constipation cases, is characterized by impaired colonic motility. For patients refractory to conservative therapies who experience chronic, intractable symptoms and diminished quality of life (QoL), surgical intervention becomes the last-resort treatment. The primary surgical approach for STC has historically been total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (TC-IRA). Over the past two decades, however, subtotal colectomy with cecorectal anastomosis (SC-CRA) has garnered growing interest within the surgical community due to its potential to mitigate postoperative diarrhea. Despite this benefit, SC-CRA raises concerns about an elevated risk of recurrent constipation. The debate regarding the superiority of these approaches remains unresolved. This study aims to address this controversy through a comparative analysis of TC-IRA and SC-CRA, evaluating their therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles in refractory STC.

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients (≥18 years of age) of either sex
2. Patients with conditions in agreement with the Roman IV criteria of functional constipation
3. Patients have less than one complete spontaneous bowel movement per week
4. Patients rely on laxatives to assist defecation for a long time
5. More than 20% the radio-paque markers localized in the colon after 72 hours based on colonic transit studies
6. Patients were refractory to conservative treatment for more than 1 year
7. Patients with a strong desire for surgery

Exclusion criteria

1. Pregnant or breast-feeding women
2. Patients with megacolon, megarectum,severe spastic constipation, severe rectocele, rectal prolapse (Oxford Grade IV or above)
3. Patients with colorectal neoplasms
4. Patients with small intestinal slow transit
5. Patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome
6. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease
7. Patients with ileostomy
8. Patients with severe psychiatric disease