Stool patterns and symptoms of disordered anorectal function in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) typically clinically manifest with symptoms like chronic diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. However, symptoms of abnormal anorectal function seem to be of equal importance, regardless of the presence or absence of perianal disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess stool patterns and the prevalence of symptoms of disordered anorectal function, particularly urgency and fecal incontinence, and their severity in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Material and methods: Thirty-three patients with CD and 38 patients with UC completed a questionnaire. A push/strain maneuver was performed on all patients and 20 controls.

Results: Thirty-three patients had more than 3 bowel movements a day; 44 had loose/watery stools. Two patients had fewer than 3 bowel movements a week, 8 had hard/lumpy stools, and 3 used laxatives. Excessive straining and incomplete evacuation were reported by 17 and 38 patients, respectively. Fifty-two patients complained of urgency and 32 of tenesmus. Significantly, more UC patients than CD patients had urgency at least once a day (p < 0.04). The following symptoms were reported by patients in the following numbers: fecal incontinence (31), passive (20) and urge incontinence (16), incontinence to gas (24), as well as liquid (33) and solid stool (7). Stool/gas discrimination was defective in 28 patients. Eleven patients had to wear pads. Everyday functioning was worsened because of urgency/tenesmus in 39 patients and because of fecal incontinence in 28 patients. The push/strain maneuver was abnormal in 12 patients with CD, 15 patients with UC and 1 control subject. The differences between the 2 study groups and the controls were significant (p < 0.03 and p < 0.01).

Conclusions: A majority of patients with IBD complain of urgency. Fecal incontinence is reported by over 50% of patients. Both worsen patients' everyday functioning. A relevant proportion of patients have symptoms consistent with constipation, which is in connection with an abnormal push/strain maneuver in more than 1/3 of them.

Keywords: fecal incontinence; high-resolution manometry; inflammatory bowel disease.