title: Recto-anal manometric characteristics of type 2 diabetic patients who have sensation of incomplete defecation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many diabetic patients report symptoms of incomplete defecation. We aimed to clarify the recto-anal manometric characteristics related to these symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire regarding gastrointestinal symptoms was distributed to 35 diabetics (19 women and 16 men) aged between 39 and 81 years. Nineteen reported incomplete defecation sensation (WS) and 16 did not (NS). Recto-anal manometry was performed for all patients. Data are presented as mean±SD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resting rectal pressure was 14.4±10.1 mmHg and 8.8±3.9 mmHg, p<.03; first sensation was 61.0±27.8 ml and 83.1±35.7 ml, p<.04; and maximum tolerable volume was 174.2±81.5 ml and 235.0±89.5 ml, p<.04 for WS and NS, respectively. The WS group was further divided into 2 groups according to symptom severity (less severe and very severe). Significant differences were found in resting external anal sphincter pressure (50.4±15.6 and 34.3±17.4, p<.04) and the recto anal inhibitory reflex (48.6±19.8 and 26.3±23.2, p<.03) between the less severe and very severe groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) Resting rectal pressure was significantly higher in symptomatic individuals. (2) First sensation and maximum tolerable volume were higher in asymptomatic diabetics. (3) In diabetics with more severe symptoms, the resting external anal sphincter pressures were significantly lower. (4) The degree of relaxation in the recto-anal inhibitory reflex was significantly higher in individuals without complaints.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal. cambombo@hotmail.com
authors: João Xavier
authors: JX
authors: Jorge
authors: Cláudia Iracema Cardoso
authors: CI
authors: Borges
authors: Edgard Augusto
authors: EA
authors: Panão
authors: Fernando Jorge
authors: FJ
authors: Delgado
authors: Mário Amaral
authors: MA
authors: Simões
authors: Álvaro Correia
authors: ÁC
authors: Coelho
authors: Amílcar Lima
authors: AL
authors: Silva
authors: Carlos Costa
authors: CC
authors: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003672:Defecation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D011312:Pressure; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012007:Rectum / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index