Objective        To investigate the efficiency of total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) and subtotal colectomy with caeco-rectal anastomosis (CRA) and the effect on the nutritional and he

alth status in the patients with slow transit constipation (STC).       Methods        A total of 40 STC patients receiving IRA (33 females) with a mean age of 49.1 years (ranging from 18 to 79)

and a mean follow-up period of 63.9 months (ranging from 11 to 263 months)

and another 32 STC patients receiving CRA (26 females) with a mean age of 52.6 years (ranging from 21 to 73)

and a mean follow-up period of 33.2 months (ranging from 6 to 113 months) were enrolled in this multi-center study. There was no significant difference in the gender and age between the 2 groups. Their serum levels of hemoglobin

total protein and albumin

and the percentage of lymphocytes before and after operations were compared. The 36-item short-form health survey questionnaire (SF-36)

mini-nutritional assessment (MNA)

postoperative general condition questionnaire

and social activities questionnaire were used to evaluate the efficiency of the 2 approaches. The efficiency

and nutritional and health status in the patients were investigated and compared after the procedures.       Results      There were 87.5% patients from the 2 groups feeling satisfied with the outcome of the procedures in 3 months after surgery

and the percentage was increased to 90.0% in 6 months after surgery. The number of cases with frequent bowel movements in both groups was decreased with the time elapsing. The number in group IRA at 12 months

and the number in the group CRA at 6 months after surgery were decreased significantly when compared with the number in their own groups at 3 months after surgery (

P

<

0.01 and

P

<

0.05 respectively). The patients with anti-diarrhoica application in 12 months after surgery were decreased significantly in both groups when compared with their own groups in 3 months after surgery (

P

<

0.01 and

P

<

0.05 respectively). Postoperative serum levels of hemoglobin

total protein and albumin

and the percentage of lymphocytes were significantly higher in IRA group than in CRA group (

P

<

0.05). There was no difference in MNA assessment in both groups (

P

>0.05). The scores in both groups were close to the highest levels. There was no difference in the postoperative general condition in both groups (

P

>0.05). The scores of the health status

emotion

and feeling for life in both groups only accounted for 68.8% to 82.4% of highest scores.       Conclusion        Either IRA or CRA surgeries relieves STC symptoms

and results in good postoperative nutritional conditions. The health conditions and social life are affected. Both IRA and CRA surgeries are suitable for the treatment of STC

and should be chosen according to individual patient’s condition.