Optimizing the Utility of Anorectal Manometry for Diagnosis and Therapy: A Roundtable Review and Recommendations.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Anorectal manometry (ARM) is a comprehensive diagnostic tool for evaluating patients with constipation, fecal incontinence, or anorectal pain; however, it is not widely utilized for reasons that remain unclear. The aim of this roundtable discussion was to critically examine the current clinical practices of ARM and biofeedback therapy by physicians and surgeons in both academic and community settings. METHODS: Leaders in medical and surgical gastroenterology and physical therapy with interest in anorectal disorders were surveyed regarding practice patterns and utilization of these technologies. Subsequently, a roundtable was held to discuss survey results, explore current diagnostic and therapeutic challenges with these technologies, review the literature, and generate consensus-based recommendations. RESULTS: ARM identifies key pathophysiological abnormalities such as dyssynergic defecation, anal sphincter weakness, or rectal sensory dysfunction, and is a critical component of biofeedback therapy, an evidence-based treatment for patients with dyssynergic defecation and fecal incontinence. Additionally, ARM has the potential to enhance health-related quality of life and reduce healthcare costs. However, it has significant barriers that include a lack of education and training of healthcare providers regarding the utility and availability of ARM and biofeedback procedures, as well as challenges with condition-specific testing protocols and interpretation. Additional barriers include understanding when to perform, where to refer, and how to use these technologies, and confusion over billing practices. CONCLUSIONS: Overcoming these challenges with appropriate education, training, collaborative research, and evidence-based guidelines for ARM testing and biofeedback therapy could significantly enhance patient care of anorectal disorders.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used to define a broad range of therapies, most commonly grouped into natural products, mind-body medicine, and traditional systems of medicine. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) commonly use CAM therapies, although there are many barriers that may keep patients and providers from talking about a patient's CAM use. Despite limited quantity and quality of evidence of CAM for IBS, providers can better counsel patients on CAM use by understanding pitfalls related to CAM use and by learning what is known about CAM.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

The relevance of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and their impact on quality of life for many patients has become an increasingly important topic in gastroenterology. A gastroenterologist can expect to see 40% of patients for motility and functional GI disorders, thus highlighting the necessity for physicians to have a strong foundation of knowledge in treatment strategies for these patients with complex disorders. A significant number of patients who suffer with functional GI disorders turn to complementary and alternative therapies to maintain control over their symptoms and often are happy with therapeutic results. This narrative presents information and treatment algorithms for the gastroenterologist to better understand and use some of the most common complementary and alternative therapies for patients with functional dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Resident Wellness: An Intervention to Decrease Burnout and Increase Resiliency and Happiness.

Introduction: Despite the national focus on trainee burnout, effective wellness programs that can easily be incorporated into training curriculums are lacking. Strategies such as mindfulness and positive psychology, linked with deep breathing, have been shown to increase resiliency. We hypothesized that education about the neuroscience literature, coupled with teaching about well-being using short, easy-to-practice evidence-based exercises, would increase acceptance of this curriculum among residents and that providing protected time to practice these exercises would help trainees incorporate them into their daily lives. Methods: Residents were asked to attend a 60-minute didactic featuring both the concepts and science behind well-being. Residents then attended 15-minute booster sessions during protected didactic time each week for a 12-week curriculum. The booster sessions were peer-led by wellness champions. Additionally, there were monthly competitions using free phone apps to promote physical fitness through steps and flights challenges. Results: The 12-week curriculum was offered to 272 residents across five subspecialties of internal medicine, general surgery, anesthesiology, psychiatry, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. A total of 188 residents (69%) participated in the initial didactic component. The curriculum was positively received, with four of the five residency programs participating in weekly sessions. Residents in four participating departments then chose to continue the weekly sessions on a voluntary basis after the initial 12-week curriculum. Discussion: It is feasible to implement a low-cost, peer-led wellness curriculum to educate residents and foster an environment during residency training where mindfulness, optimism, gratitude, and social connectedness are the norm.