title: Comparison between perfusion and balloon techniques for performing anorectal manometry in children with intestinal constipation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two anorectal manometry techniques have commonly been utilized: the perfusion technique and the balloon technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare both techniques in children with intestinal constipation who had not undergone surgical treatment for its correction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine children aged between four and fourteen years underwent anorectal manometry using both techniques at random. Resting pressure, pressure response to voluntary contraction, coughing and perianal stimulation, maximum pressure on the anal canal pressure curve, and presence of rectosphincteric reflex were registered and submitted to statistics. Vectorgraphy of the sphincter muscle complex was obtained by perfusion technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical comparison between the techniques revealed statistically significant differences in resting pressure (p=0.041), pressure response to voluntary contraction (p=0.026) and maximum pressure within the pressure curve (p=0.010). The rectosphincteric reflex was demonstrated in 21 patients by both techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perfusion technique presented greater sensitivity in the following parameters: resting pressure, pressure response to voluntary contraction and maximum pressure within the pressure curve. The methods studied are equivalent regarding the measurement of pressure responses to coughing and perianal stimulation and the investigation of rectosphincteric reflex.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil. geraldomnm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Geraldo Magela Nogueira
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: José Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Vânia Dolores Rodrigues Perdigão
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Nobre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology*