Is there importance in the use of anorectal physiologic tests in the diagnosis of the irritable bowel syndrome? [Existe importância na utilização de exames de fisiologia ano retal no diagnóstico da sindrome do intestino irritável?]

Abstract

Introduction: In some patients the irritable bowel syndrome and the functional constipation is confuse, mainly when the predominant symptom in the irritable bowel syndrome is the constipation. Amongst some examinations the anal manometry evaluates the esfincter function and retal sensitivity. Method: A study of 55 anal manometry was performed at the clinic of anal physiology of the Service of Surgical Clinic of the University of Toubate Hospital in patients with diagnosis of intestinal constipation or irritable bowel syndrome from january 2006 to may 2007. All the patients presented normal colonoscopy and were included in the diagnostic criteria of Rome II for Functional Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Manometry was performed with Alacer a perfusion device with 8 channels. Results: There had not been found differences between the manometry about the pressures of rest, contraction and evacuation, as well as in the values of rectal sensitivity. We find differences in abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome at the moment of the tolerable maximum volum where 69.2% of these patients had presented abdominal pain. Conclusion: Patients with the irritable bowel syndrome present pain with rectal tolerable maximum volume, that does not occur in constipated patients, in the gauging of the tolerable maximum volume, which did not have difference in relation to the other data of the manometry.