Colonic Electrical Stimulation for Chronic Constipation: A Perspective Review
Iñaki Ortego-Isasa,
Juan Francisco Ortega-Morán,
Héctor Lozano,
Thomas Stieglitz,
Francisco M. Sánchez-Margallo,
Jesús Usón-Gargallo,
J. Blas Pagador,
Ander Ramos-Murguialday
Affiliations
Iñaki Ortego-Isasa
TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
Juan Francisco Ortega-Morán
Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Héctor Lozano
TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
Thomas Stieglitz
Laboratory for Biomedical Microtechnology, Department of Microsystems Engineering–IMTEK and BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Francisco M. Sánchez-Margallo
Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Jesús Usón-Gargallo
Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
J. Blas Pagador
Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Ander Ramos-Murguialday
TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
Chronic constipation affects around 20% of the population and there is no efficient solution. This perspective review explores the potential of colonic electric stimulation (CES) using neural implants and methods of bioelectronic medicine as a therapeutic way to treat chronic constipation. The review covers the neurophysiology of colonic peristaltic function, the pathophysiology of chronic constipation, the technical aspects of CES, including stimulation parameters, electrode placement, and neuromodulation target selection, as well as a comprehensive analysis of various animal models highlighting their advantages and limitations in elucidating the mechanistic insights and translational relevance for CES. Finally, the main challenges and trends in CES are discussed.
