Rectal pressure response to a meal in patients with high spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a postprandial increase of rectal pressure in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare their rectal pressures with those of healthy volunteers.


METHODS
A before-after trial comparing SCI and control subjects.


METHODS
Patients were recruited from the register of an SCI unit at a rehabilitation medicine department, and the study took place at the university hospital laboratory in Sweden.


METHODS
Ten patients with high traumatic SCI and 9 healthy volunteers. Eight patients had a lesion above level T5.


METHODS
Continuous anorectal manometry was performed. Rectal activity was calculated before and at regular time intervals after a 1000-cal test meal.


METHODS
Rectal activity measured as area under the pressure curve.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in rectal activity of 46% after 10 minutes in the patients but of 72% after 5 minutes in the volunteers. There was no difference in fasting rectal activity, but patients had a stronger mean rectal postprandial response during 60 minutes compared with volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the theory that the colonic response to food is preserved in patients with high SCI.
Walter
Susanna A
SA
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. suswa@imk.liu.se
Morren
Geert L
GL
Ryn
Ann-Katrine
AK
Hallböök
Olof
O
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*