[Functional manometric and electromyographic examination of the normal and pathologic anorectum]

Abstract

Manometric and electromyographic analysis of anorectal function in terminal gastrointestinal tract malformations is a technique which gives an insight into the specific pathophysiology of anorectal malformations and can be used to follow the clinical evolution and to analyse the maturation phenomena of the lowered colon. It includes the study of spontaneous sigmorecto-anal activity associated with a way of examining the anorectal response to stimuli (adaptation, reaction, relaxation reflexes of the internal anal sphincter, rectal compliance, continence reaction, measure of critical volume and lastly the anorectal profile). This study can be completed by electromyography of striated anorectal sphincter structures. Some values for normal anorectal continence and partial or complete incontinence can be calculated after review of the literature.