Effect of Tegaserod on Orocecal Transit in Elderly Chronic Constipation Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Male \& Females aged 65 and older * Patients must meet the criteria for chronic idiopathic constipation for at least 12 weeks * Patients must have had a colonoscopy within the past 5 years * Patients must pass a balloon expulsion test at screening * Patients must be able to comply and understand the use of a diary Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a clinically significant medical condition that would interfere with the patient completing the trial * Patients with loose stools at least once per week * Patients with IBS * Known allergies to the same class of drug and/or allergies to eggs * Patients who require the use of manual maneuvers to have a bowel movement Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.