The Low Down on the Sitzmark study...
The test is used to diagnose severe constipation or other colon disorders. You are given a capsule to swallow that passes naturally through the digestive tract just as food and waste do. You will then have X-rays taken on day 1, 3 and 5.
The SITZMARKS® capsule contains 24 “radiopaque” rings – this means that each individual ring will show up on an X-ray. You can see the rings inside the capsule before you swallow it. The capsule itself dissolves, releasing the rings inside your digestive tract. By counting the number of rings still present in your digestive tract after each X-ray, your doctor can diagnose your condition and recommend treatment options.
READING THE RESULTS: information from: (http://www.sitzmarks.com/)
If over 80% of the markers are passed by day 5, colonic transit is not grossly abnormal. If the remaining markers are scattered about the colon, the condition is most likely hypomotility or colonic inertia. If the remaining markers are accumulated in the rectum or rectosigmoid, the condition is most likely functional outlet delay, e.g., internal rectal prolapse, anismus.- If 5 or less markers remain, patient has grossly normal colonic transit
- If most rings are scattered about the colon, patient most likely has hypomotility or coIonic inertia.
- If most rings are gathered in the rectosigmoid, patient has functional outlet obstruction.
