Magnetic Resonance Defecography: An Evaluation of Obstructed Defecation and Pelvic Floor Weakness

What are the cut-off points for vaginal manometry to differentiate women with a weak from those with a strong pelvic floor muscle contraction?: Vaginal manometry to classify a pelvic floor muscle contraction

BACKGROUND

Vaginal manometry is regarded as an objective method to assess pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function and can measure several variables during contraction.

OBJECTIVE

To determine which variables could differentiate women with/without a weak/strong PFM contraction and determine their cut-off points.

METHODS

This is a diagnostic accuracy study performed on 156 women with a mean age of 40.4 (SD, 15.9) years. The reference test was vaginal palpation and the index test was vaginal manometry (Peritron™ manometer). Variables were pressure at rest, pressure achieved with maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), MVC average, duration, gradient, and area under the curve (AUCm). The Receiver Operating Curve (AUC/ROC) and logistic regression were used to analyze the data and obtain cut-off points.

RESULTS

Excellent ability to discriminate women with a weak/strong PFM contraction was found for MVC average (cut-off: 28.93 cmH2O), MVC (cut-off: 38.61 cmH2O), and the AUCm (cut-off: 1011.93 cm²*s). The gradient variable had good discrimination ability (AUC/ROC=0.81; cut-off: 28.68 cmH2O/s). The MVC average assessed by manometry, menopausal status, and the presence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were associated with a weak/strong PFM contraction in the multivariate analysis; however, the most parsimonious model to discriminate weak/strong PFM contraction included only the MVC average (AUC/ROC = 0.95; sensitivity: 0.87; specificity: 0.91).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest which manometry variables are appropriate to assess and classify PFM function in females. These could be used to help physical therapists to make clinic decisions about the management of female PFM.

Role of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in management of obstructed defecation case series

AIMS

Surgical treatment of obstructed defecation (OD) carries frequent recurrences. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role dynamic magnetic resonance imaging defecography, and to elucidate the underlying anatomic and pathophysiologic background of pelvic floor disorders in these patients in order to minimize failures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty consecutive constipated patients with OD symptoms (31 females) with mean age 48.15+/-14.29 years. They underwent perineal examination, proctoscopy, anorectal manometry and Dynamic MRI defecography. The different pelvic floor morphology was recorded. The type and outcome of treatment whether conservative or surgical were also recorded.

RESULTS

The dynamic MRI of the pelvic floor showed 23 patients with descending perineum, 32 rectoceles (28 females), 12 cystoceles (10 females), 6 enteroceles (4 females), 18 intussusceptions (14 females), and 7 dyskinetic puborectalis muscle (3 females). The diagnosis of combined pelvic floor disorders with dynamic MRI defecography was consistent with clinical results in 70% and there were additional diagnostic parameters in 30% of patients. Dynamic MRI findings changed treatment decision in 8 patients 20% with surgical treatment performed in 25 patients (8 stappled trans-anal rectal resection, 11 trans-anal Delorme's, 6 trans-abdominal combined repair), and conservative treatment in 15 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging represents a convenient diagnostic procedure in females and to a lesser extent in males, especially in terms of dynamic imaging of pelvic floor organs during defecation. In addition to the clinical assessment, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging had clinical impact in OD and interdisciplinary treatment.