Prevalence of rectoanal inhibitory reflex in chagasic megacolon.
BACKGROUND
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex is not always evident in patients with chagasic megacolon. This may be due to insufficient volumes of air used during insufflation for the manometric examination.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the volume of air necessary to induce rectoanal inhibitory reflex in patients with chagasic megacolon and to observe its prevalence in these individuals.


METHODS
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex in 39 patient with chagasic megacolon was studied by means of anorectal manometry using the balloon method. The balloon was insufflated using sequential volumes up to 300 mL to induce reflex.


RESULTS
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was identified in 43.6% of the patients using a mean volume of 196 mL of insufflated air (standard error = 13.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex can be induced in patients with chagasic megacolon when greater volumes of air are used.
Cavenaghi
Simone
S
Service of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurological Sciences, Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto Medical School, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. sicavenaghi@ig.com.br
Felicio
Otaviano Cardoso da Silva
OC
Ronchi
Luis Sergio
LS
Cunrath
Geni Satomi
GS
Melo
Marcelo Maia Caixeta de
MM
Netinho
João Gomes
JG
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008531:Megacolon / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology