Evaluation of anorectal functions of children with anorectal malformations using fecoflowmetry.
OBJECTIVE
A simple and objective method evaluating the bowel functions of patients with anorectal anomalies is necessary. The authors applied fecoflowmetry and saline enama test for patients with anorectal anomalies to evaluate the fecodynamics and anorectal motilities in these children.


METHODS
The bowel functions of 16 patients who underwent repair for anorectal malformations and 5 normal controls were evaluated by saline enema test and fecoflowmetry. The correlations between the clinical scores for the bowel functions and the parameters in fecodynamic studies were investigated.


RESULTS
Seven of 16 patients exhibited periodical contractions of the rectum synchronized with relaxations of the anal canal during saline infusion as did the controls and had significantly higher clinical scores than the other patients. Two patients with severe chronic constipation lacked rectal contractions. Among the fecoflowmetric parameters, the maximum flow, average flow, and tolerable volume of saline infused into the rectum were significantly lower in the patients with low clinical scores than those of the controls. The maximal squeeze pressure and resting anal pressure were not significantly different between the patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Fecodynamic studies, such as fecoflowmetry and saline enema test, help in obtaining clinical indicators for the bowel functions of patients with anorectal anomalies.
Kayaba
Hiroyuki
H
Central Clinical Laboratory and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Akita University Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Hebiguchi
Tatsuzo
T
Yoshino
Hiroaki
H
Mizuno
Masaru
M
Yamada
Mamiko
M
Chihara
Junichi
J
Kato
Tetsuo
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage
D012965:Sodium Chloride