title: Does colorectal endometriosis alter intestinal functions? A prospective manometric and questionnaire-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To objectively evaluate using anorectal manometry whether endometriotic nodules influence intestinal function and to reveal subjective intestinal dysfunctions in patients with rectosigmoid deep infiltrating endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 25) with a preoperative diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients underwent anorectal manometry; after that, they filled a questionnaire about defecatory functions and ranked their pain symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The parameters studied were resting pressure, maximum squeezing pressure, pushing, rectoanal inhibitory reflex, and rectal sensibility. We analyzed the responses to the defecatory function questionnaire and the scored the endometriosis pain symptoms using a Visual Analogue Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No alterations of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex were found. Hypertone of the internal anal sphincter was found in 20 of 25 patients. Almost half of the patients had an increase of the threshold of desire to defecate, and 7 patients had a reduction of the anal sphincter squeeze pressure. According to the responses to the defecatory function questionnaire, incomplete evacuation was the most common symptom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not find marked motility or sensitive dysfunctions at the anorectal manometry, whereas subjectively patients reported some defecatory disorders. We revealed the presence of hypertone of the internal anal sphincter in most of the patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  74/2010/O/Sper.
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery Unit, S. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mabrouk
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raimondo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stanghellini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corinaldesi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seracchioli
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007558:Italy; D008365:Manometry; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires