{
  "abstract": "BACKGROUND: Transabdominal ultrasonography (USG) is a noninvasive tool for detecting fecal impaction in children with functional constipation (FC) and may predict treatment response. However, supporting evidence remains limited and controversial.\n\nAIM: To evaluate changes in rectal diameter (RD) and anterior rectal wall thickness (AWT) measured by USG in children with FC after treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 8 weeks.\n\nMETHODS: This substudy of a randomized controlled trial included children aged 6 months to 18 years diagnosed with FC according to the Rome IV criteria at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (May 2024-February 2025). Participants received either commercial PEG or PEG-Chula as laxatives for FC. USG was performed at baseline and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks by the primary investigator. RD and AWT were measured following Klijn’s technique.\n\nRESULTS: Of the 52 enrolled children, 44 completed all four visits. The median age was 50.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 28-92.5] months, and 65.9% were female. The median FC duration was 19.5 (IQR: 12-36) months. Stool frequency and consistency improved significantly over 8 weeks, with no difference between the commercial PEG and PEG-Chula groups. The mean RD decreased significantly from 2.70 cm (95%CI: 2.51-2.88) at baseline to 2.46 cm (95%CI: 2.30-2.62) at week 1, 2.45 cm (95%CI: 2.30–2.60) at week 4, and 2.33 cm (95%CI: 2.18-2.48) at week 8. AWT remained 0.29 cm (95%CI: 0.27–0.32) at baseline and 0.29 cm (95%CI: 0.26–0.30) at week 8 (P = 0.997). The time since the last defecation to USG significantly influenced RD (P = 0.030) but not AWT (P = 0.382).\n\nCONCLUSION: USG-measured RD decreases significantly with effective PEG treatment and may serve as a useful noninvasive marker for monitoring treatment response in children with FC.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Duc Long Tran"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitikarn Pinyoying"
    },
    {
      "name": "Palittiya Sintusek"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ep10ye8mc3y5w.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5409/wjcp.119251",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13720576/",
  "id": "ep10ye8mc3y5w",
  "issns": [
    "2219-2808"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.119251",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Prospective Study"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2715|Gastrointestinal motility and disorders"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7163181630",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13720576",
  "pmid": "42964424",
  "published": "2026-11-03",
  "publisher": "Baishideng Publishing Group Inc",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ep10ye8mc3y5w.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:21:26Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13720576",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.119251"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2715|Gastrointestinal motility and disorders",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Rectal diameter measured by transabdominal ultrasonography for monitoring treatment response in children with functional constipation",
  "title_text": "Rectal diameter measured by transabdominal ultrasonography for monitoring treatment response in children with functional constipation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:21:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ep10ye8mc3y5w",
  "venue": "World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics",
  "versions": []
}