[Constipation--a new approach].

Chronic idiopathic constipation is defined as the emission of less than 3 stools per week. Beside signs evoking a severe form (Hirschsprung's disease, idiopathic megacolon), a treatment with bran, at a dose of 20 grams per day, is instituted right away, which cures almost 60% of the patients (constipation secondary to dietetic errors). If this is not the case, the study of the colonic transit time of markers, anorectal manometry, defecation radiographs, enables to recognize various etiological forms (colonic inertia, irritable colon, anism, descending perineum, etc...) which require a specific treatment.