Diagnostic–Therapeutic Care Pathway in Chronic Constipation: AIGO (Italian Association of Gastroenterologists and Gastrointestinal Endoscopists) Position Paper

Chronic constipation (CC) is one of the most common disorders of gut–brain interaction, affecting more than 11% of adults in Western countries, with higher prevalence in women and in the elderly. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, most patients self-manage their symptoms, while only a minority seek medical attention from general practitioners (GPs) or specialists. Proper assessment not only often requires a multidimensional approach but also accurate diagnostic and therapeutic pathways that define the exact role of GPs and specialists. This paper describes a comprehensive Diagnostic–Therapeutic Care Pathway (DTCP) for CC, focusing on the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies required for accurate patient assessment and management. The pathway involves a primary care physician intervention phase, responsible for first-line diagnostic and therapeutic management and evaluation using objective parameters, as well as reassessment at appropriate time points to identify patients requiring further specialist evaluation. Advanced diagnostic methodologies are described as being performed in specialized gastroenterology or neurogastroenterology settings. These include colonic transit studies with radiopaque markers, high-resolution anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion testing, magnetic resonance imaging or conventional defecography, ultrasonography, and neurophysiological assessments such as anal sphincter EMG and pudendal nerve latency testing.