Motility Diagnostics & Specialized Treatment in Broward County, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade
As a Board-Certified General Surgeon with fellowship training in advanced minimally invasive procedures and complex pelvic care, Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD provides personalized evaluation and chronic constipation treatment in Broward County and South Florida, with special attention to identifying why constipation is occurring before recommending treatment.
Schedule Your Constipation Evaluation
Same-week consultations available for chronic and severe constipation. Complete the form below or call our South Florida office at (954) 388–0860.
WHEN CONSTIPATION NEEDS MORE THAN HOME TREATMENT
Occasional constipation may improve with changes in diet, fluid intake, physical activity or an appropriate bowel regimen. When symptoms continue despite these measures, repeatedly return, or interfere with normal daily life, a more complete medical evaluation may help identify the underlying cause.
When over-the-counter laxatives, dietary fiber, and routine regimens no longer provide relief, a specialized evaluation is essential. Under the care of Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, our practice delivers physician-led diagnostic assessments designed to pinpoint whether your symptoms stem from slow transit, pelvic outlet obstruction, or neuromuscular dysmotility with the clinical standards of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) – Constipation. The primary objective of chronic constipation treatment is to restore comfortable, predictable bowel function while preventing serious complications such as bowel obstruction, stercoral ulceration, and severe fecal impaction. Dr. Bhatt thoroughly evaluates four important areas
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Colonic Transit & Motility Speed: Assessing how efficiently stool moves through the large intestine to identify colonic inertia or slow-transit constipation.
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Anorectal & Pelvic Floor Function: Evaluating the coordination between the rectum and anal sphincter muscles to diagnose pelvic floor dyssynergia and outlet dysfunction.
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Structural & Anatomical Assessment: Identifying structural issues such as rectocele, sigmoidocele, internal rectal intussusception, or strictures that physically obstruct evacuation.
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Urgent Relief vs. Long-Term Management: Promptly relieving acute fecal impaction while establishing a sustainable, long-term therapeutic strategy.
For patients seeking a constipation doctor near me in South Florida, Dr. Bhatt combines advanced diagnostics with compassionate care to help you regain your daily comfort and quality of life.
Schedule Your Constipation Evaluation
Same-week consultations available for chronic and severe constipation. Complete the form below or call our South Florida office at (954) 388–0860.
Depending on the underlying cause of your bowel dysfunction, Dr. Bhatt crafts a phased, personalized treatment plan. By accurately distinguishing between slow transit, pelvic floor dyssynergia, and anatomical blockages, we avoid one-size-fits-all treatments and deliver lasting relief. Identifying the pattern matters because treatment that works well for one type of constipation may be ineffective for another.
Anorectal manometry (ARM) evaluates how the rectum, anal sphincter, and pelvic floor muscles work during a bowel movement. A balloon expulsion test may also be used to assess difficulty with stool evacuation.
Best For: Pelvic floor dyssynergia, chronic severe straining, functional outlet obstruction, and laxative-resistant constipation
In slow-transit constipation, stool moves through the colon more slowly than expected.
Best For Evaluation: Patients with persistent, medically refractory constipation in whom slowed colon movement is suspected.
When severe constipation is caused by physical pelvic organ prolapse—such as a rectocele, enterocele, or internal rectal intussusception—Dr. Bhatt utilizes advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques to repair the structural defect, eliminate the anatomical stool-trapping pocket, and restore smooth evacuation.
Best For: Symptomatic rectocele, internal rectal prolapse, and obstructed defecation syndrome unresponsive to conservative therapy.
For severe, medically refractory colonic inertia, Dr. Bhatt performs a minimally invasive or robotic subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis—removing the non-functioning colon while preserving natural rectal continuity and sphincter control.
Best For: Severe, medically refractory colonic inertia and slow-transit constipation with normal pelvic floor function.
Dr. Bhatt prioritizes non-operative and minimally invasive strategies whenever possible. Surgery is reserved strictly for clear anatomical defects or medically refractory colonic inertia, ensuring the safest, most effective pathway for every patient.
Living with severe constipation can be frustrating, uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. Patients deserve a physician who listens carefully, explains testing in understandable language and creates an individualized plan rather than using the same treatment for every person. Patients seeking an experienced constipation doctor in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County deserve clear medical explanations, personalized diagnostics, and direct communication. Backed by hundreds of 5-star verified reviews, Dr. Astha Bhatt (Board Certified General Surgeon & Fellowship Trained in Advanced Colon and Rectal Surgery) provides trustworthy, patient-centered care for complex bowel disorders.
CHRONIC CONSTIPATION PATIENT GUIDE
Learn what to expect during your diagnostic evaluation, how slow-transit constipation differs from pelvic floor dyssynergia, and when advanced medical therapies or minimally invasive interventions are recommended—guided directly by Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD.
Educational video: Dr. Astha Bhatt Explains Diagnosing & Treating Severe Constipation
In this educational video, Dr. Bhatt shares clinical insights gained from over 15 years of surgical experience. She provides a clear overview for patients coping with chronic straining, incomplete evacuation, severe abdominal distention, and fecal impaction:
If constipation continues despite dietary changes, fiber, laxatives or prescription treatment, Dr. Bhatt can review your history and determine whether additional evaluation is appropriate.
Meet Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD
Symptoms Dr. Bhatt Evaluates
For patients seeking dedicated severe constipation treatment in Broward County, Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD offers a unique blend of rigorous fellowship training, high-volume clinical experience, and empathetic, patient-first care. As a Board-Certified General Surgeon who completed a prestigious Fellowship Council-accredited program in minimally invasive and robotic surgery at AdventHealth Tampa, Dr. Bhatt is committed to solving complex gastrointestinal and defecatory problems.
Dr. Bhatt personally oversees every aspect of your clinical journey—from the initial consultation and specialized motility workup to customized medical therapy, pelvic floor coordination, and post-treatment follow-up.
Advanced Surgical & Anorectal Training
Dr. Bhatt is certified by the American Board of Surgery offers Constipation Disorder treatment ensuring the highest national standards of clinical care.
Fellowship-Trained Specialist
Dr. Bhatt completed completed The Fellowship Council-accredited program at AdventHealth Tampa, mastering minimally invasive, pelvic floor, and robotic techniques.
Direct Physician-Led Care
Dr. Bhatt personally conducts your diagnostic workup, explains all treatment options, and guides your recovery every step of the way.
Bowel movements occurring fewer than three times per week
Sensation of incomplete evacuation or anorectal blockage
Severe, persistent straining or painful defecation
Need for manual maneuvers or digital splinting to pass stool
Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD provides accessible, physician-led consultations for chronic and severe constipation. We welcome patients across Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Miami-Dade County for comprehensive in-person evaluations, second opinions, and advanced motility care.
Serving Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and surrounding communities with comprehensive evaluations for chronic constipation and anorectal motility disorders.
Providing specialized severe constipation treatment, fecal impaction relief, and diagnostic management for patients in Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Lighthouse Point.
Delivering advanced pelvic floor assessments, biofeedback coordination, and constipation care for families residing in Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, Tamarac, and Coconut Creek.
Assisting Davie, Plantation, Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, West Park, Pembroke Park, Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, and Hollywood.
Patients from Boca Raton and surrounding South Palm Beach County may schedule consultations for persistent constipation, evacuation problems, recurrent impaction or second opinions regarding advanced treatment.
Patients traveling from Miami-Dade County and other South Florida communities are welcome for physician-led evaluation of complex or persistent constipation.
Our clinic and team prioritizes prompt evaluation for patients experiencing severe discomfort, unresolved bowel dysfunction, or suspected fecal impaction.
When severe constipation does not respond to standard medical therapies, advanced diagnostics and precision interventions can offer life-changing relief. Dr. Astha Bhatt specializes in cutting-edge diagnostic modalities and tissue-preserving, minimally invasive techniques. Her objective is always to restore natural digestive and bowel function with the lowest possible risk and fastest recovery.
PATIENT QUESTIONS & CLINICAL GUIDELINES
Chronic constipation is clinically defined as experiencing infrequent bowel movements (typically fewer than three per week), excessive straining, hard or lumpy stools, and a persistent sensation of incomplete evacuation lasting for three months or longer.
Chronic constipation refers to persistent difficulty having satisfactory bowel movements. Symptoms may include hard or lumpy stools, excessive straining, fewer bowel movements, incomplete evacuation, a sensation of blockage or needing assistance to pass stool.
Severe constipation occurs when symptoms become refractory to standard dietary adjustments, hydration, and over-the-counter laxatives, often leading to debilitating abdominal pain, severe distention, nausea, and potentially dangerous complications like fecal impaction or bowel obstruction.
Consider medical evaluation when constipation persists despite reasonable dietary and over-the-counter treatment, repeatedly returns, requires frequent laxatives or enemas, causes significant straining or incomplete evacuation, or substantially affects daily life.
While occasional constipation is common, persistent and unresponsive bowel irregularity requires an expert evaluation. Relying indefinitely on stimulant laxatives or enemas can mask serious underlying conditions—such as colonic inertia, pelvic floor dyssynergia, rectocele, or structural bowel narrowing. Consulting an experienced specialist like Dr. Astha Bhatt ensures you receive an accurate diagnosis through specialized motility tests, avoiding unnecessary trial-and-error treatments and preventing long-term bowel complications.
Constipation caused by slow movement through the colon is different from constipation caused by a pelvic floor that does not relax normally.
Prompt evaluation prevents severe clinical complications. Untreated chronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction, stercoral ulceration (pressure sores on the colon wall), bowel perforation, hemorrhoidal thrombosis, anal fissures, and progressive rectal prolapse. Early intervention identifies reversible causes, restores bowel regularity, and dramatically improves your daily comfort and overall quality of life.
Increasing laxatives may help one patient but fail to address the main problem in another. For example, pelvic floor dyssynergia is usually treated with pelvic floor retraining and biofeedback when confirmed rather than simply escalating laxatives.
Dr. Bhatt utilizes a structured, evidence-based approach. She begins with a detailed medical history, physical exam, and review of all medications. If standard treatments have failed, she initiates targeted diagnostic tests, which may include:
Based on the exact findings, she designs a tailored treatment plan combining prescription secretagogues, pelvic biofeedback, or minimally invasive surgical repair.
Anorectal manometry measures pressure and coordination in the rectum and anal canal during resting, squeezing and attempts to have a bowel movement. The test can help determine whether the muscles involved in evacuation are coordinating properly and can also assess rectal sensation.
A balloon expulsion test measures the ability to expel a small water-filled balloon from the rectum. Difficulty expelling the balloon may suggest impaired evacuation, although the result is interpreted together with symptoms and other testing rather than used alone.
These tests can be particularly useful in patients with persistent straining or incomplete emptying.
During your initial visit, Dr. Bhatt conducts a comprehensive, respectful evaluation. She will review your symptom timeline, dietary habits, prior tests, and current medications. She will perform a gentle abdominal and pelvic examination to check for muscle tone, tenderness, or structural changes, and clearly explain the next recommended diagnostic steps or treatment options in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
Patients looking for a chronic constipation specialist near me, constipation doctor in Fort Lauderdale, or severe constipation treatment in Broward County can schedule a physician-led consultation with Dr. Astha Bhatt.
Dr. Bhatt sees patients from Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Parkland, Plantation, Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Hollywood, Boca Raton and surrounding South Florida communities.
Bring a medication list, previous colonoscopy or imaging reports if available, and information about which fiber products, laxatives or prescription treatments you have already tried. This can make the first consultation more focused.
Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD is a Board-Certified General Surgeon, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and fellowship-trained in minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery with a focus on robotic-assisted colorectal surgery.
Dr. Bhatt is a Board-Certified General Surgeon with specialized fellowship training in minimally invasive and robotic procedures from AdventHealth Tampa. With over 15 years of medical experience, leadership as former Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Florida Medical Center, and more than 8,000 patients treated, she provides an elite level of surgical precision combined with a deeply compassionate, physician-led bedside manner.
Yes, but only for a small, carefully selected group of patients.
Before surgery is considered for slow-transit constipation, objective testing should confirm abnormal colon transit and other causes of symptoms should be evaluated. Patients with pelvic floor dysfunction generally require appropriate pelvic floor treatment first.
Current ASCRS guidance states that selected patients with isolated refractory slow-transit constipation may benefit from total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, but surgery can produce complications and changes such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, incontinence or recurrent constipation.
Still Have Questions About Constipation Treatment? Call (954) 388-0860
A STEP-BY-STEP CONSTIPATION TREATMENT PLAN
The most effective constipation plan starts by determining where the problem is occurring.
Chronic constipation is rarely a single isolated condition; it is often a multifaceted disorder involving colonic motility, neuromuscular coordination, and pelvic anatomy. When standard dietary changes and fiber supplements fail, a structured, stepwise clinical approach is essential to achieve long-term relief without unnecessary procedures.
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STEP 1 – Identify Contributing Causes – Dr. Bhatt reviews medications, diet, fluid intake, bowel habits, medical history, prior procedures, and warning symptoms to identify factors that may be contributing to constipation.
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STEP 2 – Optimize First-Line Treatment – Treatment may begin with adjustments to fiber, hydration, bowel habits, and appropriate over-the-counter or prescription medications based on the patient’s symptoms.
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STEP 3 – Evaluate Evacuation Problems – If straining, incomplete emptying, or difficulty passing stool persists, testing such as anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion testing, or defecography may help identify pelvic floor or outlet dysfunction.
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STEP 4 – Evaluate Colon Transit – For persistent, treatment-resistant constipation, a colon transit study may be used to determine whether stool is moving too slowly through the colon.
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STEP 5 – Match Treatment to the Diagnosis – Treatment is tailored to the cause and may include medication, pelvic floor therapy and biofeedback, treatment of structural problems, or carefully selected surgery when medically appropriate.
We gather and review your diagnostic history, colonoscopy reports, and past treatment records to ensure a focused, highly productive first visit with Dr. Bhatt.
Dr. Bhatt coordinates directly with your primary care physician, gastroenterologist, and specialized pelvic floor physical therapists to ensure a unified, cohesive treatment strategy.
When symptoms suggest an evacuation disorder, Dr. Bhatt can determine whether anorectal physiology testing, balloon expulsion testing, defecography or pelvic floor treatment should be considered.
Patients with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas, significant bleeding, fever or rapidly worsening symptoms should seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a routine office visit.
Our office accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most major commercial insurance carriers. We also offer transparent self-pay options. Our dedicated administrative team will verify your benefits and guide you through any prior authorizations before your appointment.Call our office at (954) 388-0860 or book online
