Novel diagnostics and therapy of colonic motor disorders

Colonic motor abnormalities are implicated in several gastrointestinal disorders including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and functional diarrhoea. Defining the colonic abnormalities is difficult and several novel techniques including, high-resolution fibre optic manometry, wireless motility capsules, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have emerged to help in the diagnosis of these conditions. Coupled with the developing techniques are the novel treatments that look to restore normal colonic motility. These treatments include pharmacological agents (pharmabiotics, serotonin agonist, secretagogues) and medical devices (sacral nerve stimulation, transcutaneous electrical stimulation and biofeedback). This review summarizes the novel techniques used to record and define colonic motor abnormalities and the current status of the emerging treatments used to treat them.

► Colonic motor disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
► Several recent novel diagnostic tool have been developed to help record and define colonic abnormalities, including wireless motility capsules and high resolution fibre optic manometry.
► Novel pharmacological agents and medical devices are currently being trialed for the treatment of these disorders.
► 5-HT4 agonists, colonic secretagogues and various neuromodulation techniques are showing promise in managing colonic motor disorders such as constipation and/or irritable syndrome.