Prevalence of sexual and physical abuse in patients with obstructed defecation: impact on biofeedback treatment.

BACKGROUND: obstructed defecation is one of the most common subtypes of constipation, and it is frequently responsive to biofeedback treatment. AIMS: since a history of sexual and physical abuse may be present in patients with obstructed defecation, we assessed the incidence of abuse history in patients with obstructed defecation referred to a general gastroenterology practice, and whether such a history may lead to a different outcome of biofeedback training in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: one hundred and twenty-one patients (17 men, 104 women, age 53 +/- 15 years) with obstructed defecation were studied by retrospective chart review. Their history of sexual, physical and psychological abuse was obtained by a standard interview, and biofeedback training was carried out by means of a three-balloon technique. RESULTS: a history of sexual/physical or psychological abuse was present in 12.4% patients. Biofeedback training yielded a successful improvement of obstructed defecation in 93% patients without abuse and in 100% of patients with abuse; this difference was not statistically different (p = 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of sexual/physical or psychological abuse in a population of patients with obstructed defecation referred to a general gastroenterology practice is relatively low; such a history seems not to affect the outcome of biofeedback training in these patients.

Prevalence of sexual and physical abuse in patients with obstructed defecation: impact on biofeedback treatment

Background: obstructed defecation is one of the most commonsubtypes of constipation, and it is frequently responsive tobiofeedback treatment.Aims: since a history of sexual and physical abuse may be presentin patients with obstructed defecation, we assessed the incidenceof abuse history in patients with obstructed defecation referredto a general gastroenterology practice, and whether such ahistory may lead to a different outcome of biofeedback training inthese patients.Patients and methods: one hundred and twenty-one patients(17 men, 104 women, age 53 ± 15 years) with obstructeddefecation were studied by retrospective chart review. Their historyof sexual, physical and psychological abuse was obtained by astandard interview, and biofeedback training was carried out bymeans of a three-balloon technique.Results: a history of sexual/physical or psychological abusewas present in 12.4% patients. Biofeedback training yielded asuccessful improvement of obstructed defecation in 93% patientswithout abuse and in 100% of patients with abuse; this differencewas not statistically different (p = 0.53).Conclusions: the prevalence of sexual/physical or psychologicalabuse in a population of patients with obstructed defecationreferred to a general gastroenterology practice is relatively low;such a history seems not to affect the outcome of biofeedbacktraining in these patients(AU)

An unusual cause of obstructed defecation.

Obstructed defecation is one subtype of constipation, and may be due to functional or mechanical causes. Here, we report an unusual cause, never described before, of obstructed defecation due to a large uterine myoma that reverted to normal bowel habits after surgery. The importance of an accurate evaluation of the causes of constipation is highlighted, to recognize potential curable factors.