Botulinum toxin type-A infiltration of the external anal sphincter to treat outlet constipation in motor incomplete spinal cord injury: pilot cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Outlet constipation is a major problem in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. We aimed to study the efficacy of external anal sphincter (EAS) infiltration with type-A botulinum toxin (BTX-A) in motor incomplete SCI patients with outlet constipation. METHODS: Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled, comparative study in 16 motor incomplete SCI subjects. Patients were randomly assigned toreceive100 UI of BTX-A (n = 9) or physiologic serum infiltration (n = 7) in the EAS under electromyographic guidance. Outcome measures included a questionnaire for clinical bowel function evaluation, colonic transit time and anorectal manometry. All assessments were done at baseline, 1 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: Fourteen patients completed the study. In the BTX-A group we observed an improvement of subjective perception of bowel function (p = 0.01), constipation (p = 0.02) and neurogenic bowel dysfunction score (p = 0.02). The anorectal manometry revealed are duction of EAS voluntary contraction pressure (p = 0.01). No changes were observed in the placebo group. No significant side effects were observed in none of the groups. CONCLUSION: BTX-A infiltration of the EAS is a safe technique that in motor incomplete SCI, decreases the EAS contraction and the anal canal pressure during straining, and improves outlet constipation symptoms. Future studies in larger populations are needed.

Three-dimensional high-resolution anorectal manometry can predict response to biofeedback therapy in defecation disorders.

PURPOSE: Biofeedback therapy (BT) is a simple and effective technique for managing outlet constipation and fecal incontinence. Several clinical factors are known to predict BT response, but a 50% failure rate persists. Better selection of BT responsive patients is required. We aimed to determine whether the defecation disorder type per high-resolution manometry (HRM) was predictive of BT response. METHODS: We analyzed clinical, manometric, and ultrasound endoscopic data from patients who underwent BT in our department between January 2015 and January 2016. Patients were classified into four groups per the following defecation disorder classification criteria: rectal pressure > 40 mmHg and anal paradoxical contraction (type I); rectal pressure < 40 mmHg and anal paradoxical contraction (type II); rectal pressure > 40 mmHg and incomplete anal relaxation (type III); and rectal pressure < 40 mmHg and incomplete anal relaxation (type IV). An experienced single operator conducted ten weekly 20-min sessions. Efficacy was evaluated with the visual analog scale. RESULTS: Of 92 patients, 47 (50.5%) responded to BT. Type IV and type II defecation disorders were predictive of success (p = 0.03) (OR = 5.03 [1.02; 24.92]) and failure (p = 0.05) (OR = 0.41 [0.17; 0.99]), respectively. The KESS score severity before BT (p = 0.03) (OR = 0.9 [0.81; 0.99]) was also predictive of failure. CONCLUSION: The manometry types identified according to the defecation disorder classification criteria were predictive of BT response. Our data confirm the role of three-dimensional HRM in the therapeutic management of anorectal functional disorders.

Botulinum toxin type-A injection to treat patients with intractable anismus unresponsive to simple biofeedback training.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A injection to the puborectalis and external sphincter muscle in the treatment of patients with anismus unresponsive to simple biofeedback training. METHODS: This retrospective study included 31 patients suffering from anismus who were unresponsive to simple biofeedback training. Diagnosis was made by anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion test, surface electromyography of the pelvic floor muscle, and defecography. Patients were given botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection and pelvic floor biofeedback training. Follow-up was conducted before the paper was written. Improvement was evaluated using the chronic constipation scoring system. RESULTS: BTX-A injection combined with pelvic floor biofeedback training achieved success in 24 patients, with 23 maintaining persistent satisfaction during a mean period of 8.4 mo. CONCLUSION: BTX-A injection combined with pelvic floor biofeedback training seems to be successful for intractable anismus.

Alterações das pressões anais em pacientes constipados por defecação obstruída / Anal pressure changes in patients with outlet constipation

INTRODUÇÃO: a constipação é um sintoma de doença multifatorial. O diagnóstico correto é importante para orientar a terapêutica. Nas formas de defecação obstruída há vários fatores relacionados como gênero, idade, hábitos, paridade, doenças associadas e distúrbios específicos da evacuação. Entre os métodos para diagnóstico a manometria é usada pela facilidade técnica e disponibilidade. OBJETIVO: verificar o valor da manometria isoladamente em constipados por defecação obstruída. MÉTODO: examinamos quarenta pacientes do Ambulatório de Coloproctologia da Santa Casa de São Paulo com diagnóstico de defecação obstruída. As medidas de pressão retal e anal foram comparadas com um grupo controle de 60 indivíduos considerados normais do ponto de vista proctológico. Separados os pacientes consoante a causa da constipação, verificou-se o valor do método manométrico em cada causa específica. RESULTADOS: houve somente diferenças entre as medidas de pressão retal e anal em repouso e pressão máxima de contração entre os normais e os vários tipos de constipados, mas não diferenças específicas entre as várias modalidades de constipação. CONCLUSÃO: os vários métodos de fisiologia anal são importantes e necessários em conjunto para o diagnóstico correto. A manometria contribui para a investigação dos distúrbios funcionais, devendo sempre ser incluída. Contudo, seu valor como método isolado é questionável.

BACKGROUND: constipation is a complex problem and precise diagnosis is required for adequate therapy. When treating patients with obstructed defecation, many factors as gender, age, personal habits, childbirth, associated diseases and other specific pelvic disorders must be considered. Manometry is the preferred diagnosis method due to its simplicity and general availability. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this work was to determine rectal and anal pressures in patients with outlet constipation. METHOD: forty patients diagnosed with outlet constipation were examined using manometry by Coloproctology Ambulatory of Santa Casa of São Paulo. The results were compared with a control group of 60 normal. Rectal and anal pressures were measured by ballon manometry , with the patients grouped by type of constipation. RESULTS: we observed alterations in rectal and anal resting and anal squeese pressures in constipated individuals, but no pressure differences between the various types of constipation. CONCLUSION: the different diagnostic methods are relevant for a correct diagnosis. Although baloon manometry should be one of these procedures, it should not be used as the only diagnosis method.