Anorectal Symtoms and Anorectal Pathophysiologic Findings in Patients with Levator Ani Syndrome and Protalgia Fugax.
- Author:
Geun Young JANG
1
;
Joon Seong LEE
;
Hee Hyuk LIM
;
Kyung Rhan HWANG
;
Su Jin HONG
;
Jin Oh KIM
;
Moon Sung LEE
;
Chan Sup SHIM
;
Bu Sung KIM
Author Information
1. Institute for Digestive Reserch, Department of Internal Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. schidr@hosp.sch.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Levator ani syndrome;
Proctalgia fugax
- MeSH:
Anal Canal;
Constipation;
Defecation;
Defecography;
Diagnosis;
Humans;
Manometry;
Sensation;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Motility
2003;9(1):37-41
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Two most common functional anorectal pains, levator ani syndrome and proctalgia fugax, have a significant overlap in diagnosis and a controversy in pathogenic mechanism. Our aim was to evaluate the differences of anorectal symptoms and physiologic findings between the patients with levator ani syndrome and proctalgia fugax. METHODS: Eight patients and 10 patients, who fulfilled Rome II criteria for levator ani syndrome and proctalgia fugax respectively, were evaluated for the various anorectal symptoms using questionnaire and diary, anorectal manometry, balloon defecation, and defecography. RESULTS: Compared with patients with proctalgia fugax, the patients with levator ani syndrome showed higher percentage of symptoms of straining (87.5+/-30.6% vs. 40.5+/-44.9%, p<0.05), and tended to have higher percentage of the sensation of incomplete evacuation (88.1+/-26.4% vs. 53.0+/-41.9%, p=0.056). In anorectal manometric findings, squeezing pressure of the distal anal sphincter tended to be higher in patients with levator ani syndrome (201.7+/-127.7 mmHg vs. 113.0+/-43.9 mmHg, p=0.056). CONCLUSIONS: Levator ani syndrome may be related to the constipation and hyper-contractile external anal sphincter, suggesting that different mechanisms may play a role in the development of anorectal pains in patients with levator ani syndrome and proctalgia fugax.
