The Favre system for anorectal manometry: comparison with other manometry systems in vitro and in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
The Favre system operates with airflow in a semi-closed circuit to transmit pressure. We aimed to evaluate the Favre system in comparison with other commonly used manometry systems.


METHODS
The Favre, Arndorfer, Arhan, and Synectics systems were evaluated in vitro and in 14 volunteers.


RESULTS
In vitro testing showed no relevant differences for latency, precision, or retest stability. In vivo, maximum resting pressure differed among all probes (P < 0.01) except for Arhan versus Arndorfer (NS). Maximum squeeze pressures differed among all probes (P < 0.01). Decrease of resting pressure during rectoanal inhibitory reflex was similar for Favre versus Arndorfer and Arhan versus Synectics (NS). Retest stability was higher with Favre than with Arndorfer (P < 0.05) and Synectics (P < 0.05) with regard to maximum resting pressure; it was higher with Favre than with Arhan (P < 0.01) and Arndorfer (P < 0.05) with regard to maximum squeeze pressure. Favre caused less discomfort than Synectics (P < 0.05) or Arndorfer (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Favre probe is an excellent and cost-efficient system for routine anorectal manometry.
Kreis
M E
ME
University Hospital Tübingen, Dept. of General Surgery, Germany.
Jehle
E C
EC
Starlinger
M J
MJ
Cuypers
P
P
Herranz
M
M
Wiesel
P
P
Blum
A L
AL
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric