Treatment of puborectalis syndrome with progressive anal dilation

Botulinum toxin type-A injection to treat patients with intractable anismus unresponsive to simple biofeedback training

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A injection to the puborectalis and external sphincter muscle in the treatment of patients with anismus unresponsive to simple biofeedback training.

METHODS: This retrospective study included 31 patients suffering from anismus who were unresponsive to simple biofeedback training. Diagnosis was made by anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion test, surface electromyography of the pelvic floor muscle, and defecography. Patients were given botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection and pelvic floor biofeedback training. Follow-up was conducted before the paper was written. Improvement was evaluated using the chronic constipation scoring system.

RESULTS: BTX-A injection combined with pelvic floor biofeedback training achieved success in 24 patients, with 23 maintaining persistent satisfaction during a mean period of 8.4 mo.

CONCLUSION: BTX-A injection combined with pelvic floor biofeedback training seems to be successful for intractable anismus.

Pelvic outlet obstruction

Despite the wide variety of definitions and descriptions of constipation, ideally, the diagnostic approach should be uniform. The evaluation process should begin with a careful and thorough patient history and physical exam; appropriate efforts should be made to exclude organic causes of constipation. Patients suffering from pelvic outlet obstruction often respond poorly to conservative treatment. Diagnostic tests include intestinal transit studies, anorectal manometry, defecography, balloon expulsion, and anal sphincter electromyography. For many patients constipation is multifactorial and accordingly, so is the treatment. In our opinion the first line of treatment should be based on conservative measures including adequate intake of fluids, dietary fiber supplementation, and laxatives. Biofeedback training should be offered, particularly to patients with paradoxical puborectalis contraction. Surgical management can, in very limited circumstances, be offered only to those patients with disabling symptoms who have failed other standard therapeutic measures.

Study of the role of the second defecation reflex: anorectal excitatory reflex in the pathogenesis of constipation

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that anal distension caused rectal contraction, an action mediated through the anorectal excitatory reflex. Anal anesthetization aborted rectal contraction and rectal evacuation was induced by excessive straining. We investigated the hypothesis that inhibition or absence of the anorectal excitatory reflex could lead to constipation.

METHODS

We studied 18 patients (mean age +/- SD: 40.6 +/- 5.8 years, 14 women) with rectal inertia, 14 (41.7 +/- 6.6 years, 12 women) with puborectalis paradoxical syndrome, and 10 healthy volunteers (37.9 +/- 4.8 years, 8 women). The rectum was filled with normal saline until urge and then evacuated; residual fluid was calculated. The anal and rectal pressure response to anal balloon distension in increments of 2 mL of saline was recorded by a two-channel microtip catheter.

RESULTS

In the healthy volunteers, saline was evacuated as a continuous stream without straining except occasionally at the start of evacuation; no residual fluid was encountered. Anal balloon distension effected notable rectal pressure increase. In rectal inertia patients, evacuation occurred in small fluid gushes produced with excessive straining; residual fluid of large volume was collected. Anal balloon distension up to 10 mL produced no notable rectal pressure changes. The patients with PPS failed to evacuate more than a few mL of fluid despite excessive straining; the volume of residual fluid was considerable. Anal balloon distension caused a notable rectal pressure rise. The results were reproducible.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the defecation reflexes (rectoanal and anorectal) are absent in rectal inertia patients and this presumably denotes a neurogenic disorder. The anorectal reflex is active in puborectalis paradoxical syndrome, but the rectoanal reflex is not, indicating a possible myogenic defect in the puborectalis muscle.

Study of the motile activity of the colon in rectal inertia constipation

BACKGROUND

We have recently demonstrated that rectal distension effected left colonic contraction, which probably acts to feed the rectum with fecal matter each time the rectum distends and evacuates its contents. This effect was postulated to occur through the recto-colic reflex. As the colonic status in rectal inertia constipation was scarcely addressed in the literature, we investigated this point.

METHODS

The response of the colonic pressure to rectal balloon distension in increments of 10 mL of water was studied in 38 patients with rectal inertia constipation (IC) (age 42.6 +/- 14.3 years, 29 women) and 12 healthy volunteers (40.9 +/- 12.2 years, nine women). The rectal and colonic pressures were measured by saline-perfused tubes connected to a pneumohydraulic infusion system. The rectum was distended by a condom applied to the end of a 10-F catheter.

RESULTS

The rectal and left colonic resting pressures were significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (P < 0.5, P < 0.05, respectively). In the healthy volunteers, rectal distension up to first rectal sensation produced no significant rectal or colonic pressure changes (P > 0.05, P > 0.05). At urge, rectal and left colonic pressures increased significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively), but there were no changes in the right colonic pressure (P > 0.05). The colonic response lasted as long as the rectum was distended. In IC, patients did not perceive the first rectal or urge sensation up to a rectal balloon filling of 300 mL; there was no rectal or colonic pressure response (P > 0.05, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In normal subjects, left colonic contraction on rectal distension probably acts to feed the rectum with fecal material. In IC, the low left colonic resting pressure assumedly points to left colonic hypotonia which appears to aggravate the constipation produced by the inertic rectum. Furthermore, non-response of the left colon to rectal distension probably impedes rectal feeding with fecal matter and enhances constipation.

Botulinum toxin in the treatment of outlet obstruction constipation caused by puborectalis syndrome

PURPOSE

Puborectalis syndrome has been difficult to treat. We investigated the efficacy of botulinum toxin in treating patients with puborectalis syndrome who had previously failed to respond to electromyographic biofeedback sessions and who refused to use anal dilators.

METHODS

Of a group of 50 patients with chronic outlet obstruction constipation, four patients with puborectalis syndrome were included in the study. The patients were studied using anorectal manometry, defecography, and electromyography and then treated with 30 units of Type A botulinum toxin, injected into two sites on either side of the puborectalis muscle, under ultrasonographic guidance.

RESULTS

One patient was lost to follow-up. After treatment in other patients, the frequency of natural bowel movements increased from zero to six per week and laxatives were needed by only one patient. Anorectal manometry demonstrated decreased tone during straining from (mean +/- standard deviation) 96.2 +/- 12 mmHg to 42.5 +/- 13 mmHg at four weeks (P = 0.003) and 63.2 +/- 22 mmHg at eight weeks (P = 0.009). Defecography performed eight weeks after treatment showed improvement in the anorectal angle, which increased from 94 +/- 11 degrees to 114 +/- 13 degrees (P = 0.01), and evacuation of barium paste. Electromyography demonstrated mild paradoxical contraction. However, 16 weeks after treatment one of these three patients suffered symptomatic recurrence. This patient was re-treated with 50 units of toxin; eight months later he required a further 60 units. Seven months after the last injection he reported normal daily bowel movements without the use of laxatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Botulinum toxin injection should be considered as a simple therapeutic approach in patients with puborectalis syndrome. The use of higher dosage and a more precise method of toxin injections under transrectal ultrasonography account for the long-term higher success rate. However, because the effects of the toxin wear off within three months of administration, repeated injections could be necessary to maintain the clinical improvement.

Constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome

Constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome are commonly encountered in the primary care practice. Most episodes of constipation and diarrhea are benign and self-limited. Patients with chronic constipation should undergo a screening evaluation to exclude organic disease, after which most can be managed successfully with dietary modification and fiber supplementation. The cause of chronic diarrhea usually can be discerned clinically, with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and lactose intolerance being diagnosed most frequently. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and disordered defecation, which is successfully managed with a strong physician-patient relationship and periodic pharmacologic intervention.

Challenging problems presenting as constipation

Patients who seek medical care for constipation present challenges which may involve communication problems, difficulties in diagnosis, lack of optimal therapy, uncorrectable underlying disorders, or psychiatric issues which complicated management. This review describes some of these challenges, and presents management approaches that may increase the likelihood of satisfactory treatment outcomes. Situations which are reviewed include the diagnostic evaluation of the new patient with constipation; syndromes of uncertain pathophysiology including irritable bowel syndrome, slow transit constipation, and pelvic floor dysfunction; constipation associated with neurologic disorders including spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis; and psychiatric issues which complicate the management of constipation, including recognition of associated psychiatric diseases, unusual attitudes toward bowel function, eating disorders, and referral for psychiatric care.