ABSTRACT

Aim:

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of anorectal functional examinations.

Method:

Forty-three patients who fulfilled the Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional constipation were enrolled in this study from March 2013 to May 2014. Balloon expulsion test (BET), anorectal manometry (ARM) during attempted defecation, and defecography were performed. The correlation between BET, ARM, defecography and symptoms of evacuation difficulty was assessed.

Results:

There was a significant correlation in the difference between the balloon expulsion volume and recto-anal pressure, the recto-anal pressure and evacuation of paste, and the anal relaxation rate and evacuation of paste. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the balloon expulsion volume and evacuation of paste in the symptom represented by the item, “Minutes in lavatory per attempt” and between the recto-anal pressure and evacuation difficulty.

Conclusion:

The findings for each of the anorectal functional examinations revealed that there was not much of a correlation between the symptoms of defecatory disorders and patient complaints. However, a combination of examinations can probably benefit the characterization of the functional defect and the precise diagnosis of functional defecation disorders (FDD).