[Reliability index of anorectal manometry for the diagnosis of Hirschspurng disease].
The anorectal manometry (AM) and suction rectal biopsy (BS) are the main and accepted methods for diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease (HD). The reliability of these methods in newborns have been subject of controversy up to the present.


METHODS
For diagnosis of HD purpose we have performed 2227 AM records in 1744 children. Initially we used a minichamber type probe joined to a close system to perform AM. From 1984 we developed a new type of 4 ways miniprobe connected to an open system which improved the reliability of the records.


RESULTS
The indexes of reliability for our database have been the following: sensitivity 98%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 85%, negative predictive value 99%, false positive 3.4% and false negative 1.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
AM is a non invasive method with a high reliability, available in our hospital. It is a choice method for diagnosis of HD.
López Alonso
M
M
Departamento de Fisiología Medica y Biofísica, Facultad de Medicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Infantil Virgen del Rocio. manuel.lopez.alonso.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
Hernández Orgaz
A
A
Ribas Serna
J
J
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D004867:Equipment Design; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity