title: Anorectal physiological parameters in chronic constipation of unknown aetiology (primary) and of cerebrovascular accidents--a preliminary report.
abstract: Chronic constipation may be secondary to dietary, metabolic or neurological causes such as cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). In certain patients, the cause is unknown (primary idiopathic constipation [PIC]). This study compared the anorectal physiological parameters of 15 PIC patients (all females; median age 40, range 32-48 years) with 7 CVA patients (M:F = 6:1; median age 58, range 51-67 years), to observe the influence of cerebral factors on the anorectal physiology of constipation. Twenty-five normal subjects (M:F = 13:12; median age 47, range 43-50 years) acted as controls. Transit marker studies showed decreased passage in both groups, but 9 of the PIC patients had a diffuse pattern (slow transit constipation [STC]) and 6 had a pelvic outlet obstruction pattern (PO). The CVA patients had a diffuse pattern of delayed transit. Rectal sensation was significantly impaired in STC (P < 0.05) but not in PO or CVA. Electromyographic evidence of paradoxical puborectalis contractions was significantly more common in PO only (P < 0.05). Therefore, CVA patients had a different anorectal physiological pattern of constipation from PIC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged