title: Prevalence of rectoanal inhibitory reflex in chagasic megacolon.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavenaghi
authors.forename: Otaviano Cardoso da Silva
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Felicio
authors.forename: Luis Sergio
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: Geni Satomi
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cunrath
authors.forename: Marcelo Maia Caixeta de
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: João Gomes
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Netinho
mesh_terms: 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