Anorectal function testing
Volume
47
Pagination
367 - 370
DOI
10.1016/j.mpmed.2019.03.010
Journal
Medicine (United Kingdom)
Issue
ISSN
1357-3039
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Faecal incontinence and evacuation disorders are common conditions that cause significant morbidity. Patient-reported symptoms are poor predictors of underlying pathophysiology, so anorectal function testing is a key component of the clinical evaluation when initial management strategies fail. A number of investigations are available to assess anorectal structure (endoanal ultrasound, defaecography)and function (anorectal manometry, rectal sensory test, balloon expulsion test, defaecography). This review article outlines the usefulness and relevance of these investigations for the investigation of patients with faecal incontinence and/or evacuatory difficulty.