Physiological variation in rectal compliance

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The volume (V) of air inflated in a latex balloon placed in the rectum and the corresponding pressures (P) were measured in 48 subjects (24 men and 24 women) at three points: (1) earliest defaecation urge; (2) constant defaecation urge; and (3) maximum tolerable volume (MTV). The rectal pressures in all three cases were higher in men than in women. Woman aged over 60 years had higher rectal compliance (ΔV/ΔP) than men in the same age group, while no difference was found between men and women below the age of 60 years. Day‐to‐day variation of the measurements was tested in ten subjects. Reproducibility was good only for MTV (95 per cent confidence interval 57—183 per cent). Reproducibility of rectal compliance decreased with increasing values for this parameter. No such trend was found for the other parameters. In conclusion, MTV is a reproducible parameter and suitable for clinical use in evaluation of patients with faecal incontinence or constipation.