Anorectal manometry under anesthesia in the investigation of children with chronic constipation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Anorectal manometry under anesthesia was performed in 18 children, 15 of whom had long histories of constipation and had been on regular regimens of laxatives and enemas with no success. In these 15 patients, Hirschsprung''s disease had not been demonstrated by Ba enema. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with ketamine (i.v. or i.m.) in 16 patients, while halothane was used in the other 2. Anesthesia did not affect the events that are usually documented during anorectal manometry in the awake patient. In patients with a history of constipation after manometry, a rectal suction biopsy was taken, followed by a therapeutic anal stretch. Results of biopsies confirmed the manometric findings in all patients. Results of the present study demonstrate that ketamine may be used to anesthetize young patients suffering from chronic constipation for the purpose of performing anorectal manometry and for taking a rectal suction biopsy (to exclude Hirschsprung''s disease), followed by a therapeutic anal stretch.