Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate thepotential of a computerized auscultation method forproviding an objective, quantitative measurecharacteristic of irritable bowel syndrome. Bowel sounds from irritable bowel patients and normalcontrols were digitized using an electronic stethoscope.Computerized analysis indicated that the character ofthe bowel sounds did not differ significantly between groups. However, the fasting sound-tosoundinterval was significantly different between groups(1931 ± 365 msec for normals and 452 ± 35msec for the irritable bowel group; P = 0.0001). Usingthe sound-to-sound interval as a test for irritable bowelsyndrome, the cutoff value of 640 msec resulted in asensitivity of 89%, and a specificity of 100%. Weconclude that computerized analysis of bowel sounds hasthe potential to be a noninvasive, quantitative,and objective test providing positive criteria in thediagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
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Craine, B.L., Silpa, M. & O'Toole, C.J. Computerized Auscultation Applied to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dig Dis Sci 44, 1887–1892 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018859110022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018859110022