Defecography. Results of investigations in 2,816 patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to analyze the frequency of different findings at defecography in patients with defecation disorders and see in what way the evaluation could be improved.


METHODS
The reports of investigations in 2,816 patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
Twenty-three percent of the investigations were considered normal. Thirty-one percent of the patients had rectal intussusception, 13 percent had rectal prolapse, 27 percent had rectocele, and 19 percent had enterocele. Twenty-one percent of the patients had a combination of two or three of these diagnoses. The combination of rectocele and enterocele was rare. The majority of patients with enterocele had other concomitant findings. Patients with or without abnormal perineal descent had similar frequencies of rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception, and enterocele. Rectocele was more common in patients with abnormal perineal descent.


CONCLUSIONS
Defecography is valuable when investigating patients with defecation disorders. Pathologic findings were found in 77 percent of the patients. A standardized protocol should ensure a complete evaluation of defecography.
Mellgren
A
A
Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bremmer
S
S
Johansson
C
C
Dolk
A
A
Udén
R
R
Ahlbäck
S O
SO
Holmström
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003672:Defecation; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014743:Videotape Recording
D001466:Barium Sulfate