Chronic constipation is a common disease that can impair the quality of life, with a prevalence of 14% globally and 16.5% in South Korea. Straining, hard stools, the sensation of incomplete evacuation, the sensation of anorectal blockage, and manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation are the related symptoms of chronic constipation. On the other hand, medications commonly referred to as laxatives are the essentials of treatment for constipation compared to non-pharmacological treatment, such as lifestyle modifications, biofeedback, or surgery. Unfortunately, there is still an unmet need to determine if pharmacological treatment for constipation is being administered appropriately. Therefore, there are many disadvantages as to whether the indications and side effects of laxatives are adequately considered and prescribed as the primary treatment modality for constipation in a real clinical situation in Korea. Laxatives are generally recommended as the next step for patients in whom organic causes have been excluded and have not responded to initial non-pharmacologic therapies such as dietary fiber intake and exercise. Laxatives can be classified as bulk-forming laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, and other novel laxatives. On the other hand, there are distinct mechanisms underlying constipation, and appropriate administration is the most decisive. Therefore, the present investigators prepared this review to discuss appropriate pharmacological strategies for chronic constipation in Korea. Moreover, this paper also includes suggestions for appropriate pharmacological treatment options for special patient populations.

Accessory spleens are common congenital anatomic variations that are usually asymptomatic. On the other hand, they can be clinically significant if complicated by hemorrhage, torsion, or infarction. This paper describes a case of an infarcted accessory spleen in a 30-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal CT and MRI revealed an isolated mass, 4.5 cm in size, in the perisplenic area. An infarcted accessory spleen was suspected. The patient underwent laparoscopic accessory splenectomy. Histopathology identified the mass as splenic tissue that had undergone ischemic necrosis. A definitive diagnosis of an infarcted accessory spleen was made, and the patient was discharged on day 5 after surgery symptom-free.

Accessory spleens are common congenital anatomic variations that are usually asymptomatic. On the other hand, they can be clinically significant if complicated by hemorrhage, torsion, or infarction. This paper describes a case of an infarcted accessory spleen in a 30-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal CT and MRI revealed an isolated mass, 4.5 cm in size, in the perisplenic area. An infarcted accessory spleen was suspected. The patient underwent laparoscopic accessory splenectomy. Histopathology identified the mass as splenic tissue that had undergone ischemic necrosis. A definitive diagnosis of an infarcted accessory spleen was made, and the patient was discharged on day 5 after surgery symptom-free.

Background/Aims: Chicago classification version 4.0 enhances the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders using position change and provocative tests such as multiple rapid swallows and a rapid drink challenge. This study investigates the diagnostic role of the rapid drink challenge based on Chicago classification 4.0 using a functional luminal imaging probe to estimate the cutoff value. Methods: This study included 570 patients who underwent esophageal manometry with a rapid drink challenge between January 2019 and October 2022. The diagnostic flow was analyzed according to Chicago classification 4.0. Results: Ninety-nine patients (38, achalasia; 11, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction; 7, ineffective esophageal motility; 1, hypercontractile esophagus; and 42, normal esophageal function) failed the rapid drink challenge. Among the 453 participants, 50and 86 were diagnosed with achalasia and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, respectively, using Chicago classification4.0. In 249/453 (55.0%) patients initially diagnosed with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction using Chicago classification3.0, the diagnosis was changed to achalasia (n = 28), hypercontractile esophagus (n = 7), ineffective esophageal motility (n = 7), or normal esophageal function (n = 121) using Chicago classification 4.0. Rapid drink challenge-integrated relaxation pressure’s diagnostic cutoff value was 19 mmHg. Nine patients had diagnoses changed after the rapid drink challenge, including 3 with panesophageal pressurization. Conclusions Chicago classification 4.0 increased the diagnostic yield of the rapid drink challenge by 2.0% (9/453 patients). However, the rapid drink challenge had a failure rate of 17.9% (99/552 patients). Given the relatively low diagnostic yield and high failure rate of therapid drink challenge, we recommend adopting an individualized approach to manometry.

Background/Aims: Chicago classification version 4.0 enhances the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders using position change and provocative tests such as multiple rapid swallows and a rapid drink challenge. This study investigates the diagnostic role of the rapid drink challenge based on Chicago classification 4.0 using a functional luminal imaging probe to estimate the cutoff value. Methods: This study included 570 patients who underwent esophageal manometry with a rapid drink challenge between January 2019 and October 2022. The diagnostic flow was analyzed according to Chicago classification 4.0. Results: Ninety-nine patients (38, achalasia; 11, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction; 7, ineffective esophageal motility; 1, hypercontractile esophagus; and 42, normal esophageal function) failed the rapid drink challenge. Among the 453 participants, 50and 86 were diagnosed with achalasia and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, respectively, using Chicago classification4.0. In 249/453 (55.0%) patients initially diagnosed with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction using Chicago classification3.0, the diagnosis was changed to achalasia (n = 28), hypercontractile esophagus (n = 7), ineffective esophageal motility (n = 7), or normal esophageal function (n = 121) using Chicago classification 4.0. Rapid drink challenge-integrated relaxation pressure’s diagnostic cutoff value was 19 mmHg. Nine patients had diagnoses changed after the rapid drink challenge, including 3 with panesophageal pressurization. Conclusions Chicago classification 4.0 increased the diagnostic yield of the rapid drink challenge by 2.0% (9/453 patients). However, the rapid drink challenge had a failure rate of 17.9% (99/552 patients). Given the relatively low diagnostic yield and high failure rate of therapid drink challenge, we recommend adopting an individualized approach to manometry.

Background/Aims: Chicago classification version 4.0 enhances the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders using position change and provocative tests such as multiple rapid swallows and a rapid drink challenge. This study investigates the diagnostic role of the rapid drink challenge based on Chicago classification 4.0 using a functional luminal imaging probe to estimate the cutoff value. Methods: This study included 570 patients who underwent esophageal manometry with a rapid drink challenge between January 2019 and October 2022. The diagnostic flow was analyzed according to Chicago classification 4.0. Results: Ninety-nine patients (38, achalasia; 11, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction; 7, ineffective esophageal motility; 1, hypercontractile esophagus; and 42, normal esophageal function) failed the rapid drink challenge. Among the 453 participants, 50and 86 were diagnosed with achalasia and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, respectively, using Chicago classification4.0. In 249/453 (55.0%) patients initially diagnosed with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction using Chicago classification3.0, the diagnosis was changed to achalasia (n = 28), hypercontractile esophagus (n = 7), ineffective esophageal motility (n = 7), or normal esophageal function (n = 121) using Chicago classification 4.0. Rapid drink challenge-integrated relaxation pressure’s diagnostic cutoff value was 19 mmHg. Nine patients had diagnoses changed after the rapid drink challenge, including 3 with panesophageal pressurization. Conclusions Chicago classification 4.0 increased the diagnostic yield of the rapid drink challenge by 2.0% (9/453 patients). However, the rapid drink challenge had a failure rate of 17.9% (99/552 patients). Given the relatively low diagnostic yield and high failure rate of therapid drink challenge, we recommend adopting an individualized approach to manometry.