Anorectal manometry

Anorectal manometry is a diagnostic test that measures pressure and reflex responses in the rectum and anal canal, often during simulated defecation.

Anal sphincter: The ring of muscle that controls passage through the anal canal. Manometry records the resting and voluntary pressures generated by these muscles.
Dyssynergic defecation: A defecatory disorder in which pelvic floor or anal muscles fail to relax appropriately during attempted evacuation. Manometry can identify abnormal coordination during simulated defecation.
High-resolution anorectal manometry: Anorectal manometry using closely spaced pressure sensors to map pressure along the anal canal and rectum. It provides a more detailed spatial pressure profile than conventional catheter systems.
Colonic transit study: A test that measures how quickly material moves through the colon. It evaluates slow transit rather than pressures and coordination at the anorectal outlet.
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex: A temporary relaxation of the internal anal sphincter triggered by rectal distension. Balloon inflation tests whether this reflex is present.
Fecal incontinence: The involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool. Sphincter pressure and rectal sensation measurements can help characterize contributing dysfunction.
Balloon expulsion test: A test of whether a person can expel a balloon placed in the rectum. It supplies a functional check alongside manometric evidence of evacuation difficulty.
Anorectal examination: A physical examination of the anus and rectum, commonly including digital palpation. It provides bedside findings without the instrumented pressure measurements of manometry.
Rectal sensation: The perception of rectal filling, urgency, and the need to defecate. Balloon testing estimates sensory thresholds that can be abnormal in bowel disorders.
Chronic constipation: Persistent difficulty or infrequency in passing stool, often involving hard stools or incomplete evacuation. Testing is used when symptoms suggest an evacuation disorder.

Linked from 9 pages