Relationships between pelvic floor symptoms and function in irritable bowel syndrome

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Physiology
• Pelvic Floor Health

Background:

• Pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) is often overlooked in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• The connection between PFD symptoms and anorectal physiology in IBS is not well understood.
• This study focuses on non-diarrhea predominant IBS (non-D IBS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore relationships between clinical features and anorectal function in non-D IBS patients.
• To identify if clinical or physiological features predict PFD in IBS patients.
• To investigate the association between PFD symptoms and disordered anorectal physiology.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated two groups of female non-D IBS patients.
• Group I (n=32) had PFD symptoms and underwent comprehensive symptom and anorectal function assessment.
• Group II (n=32) had symptom assessment only.

Main Results:

• Increased digitation frequency correlated with longer balloon expulsion time.
• Higher anal pain scores linked to low resting anal pressure and shorter maximum squeeze duration.
• Reduced perineal descent associated with anxiety and depression; shorter maximum squeeze linked to parity and hysterectomy.

Conclusions:

• Significant links exist between PFD symptoms and anorectal dysfunction in non-D IBS.
• Clinical symptoms alone are insufficient to diagnose PFD.
• Certain clinical features warrant comprehensive anorectal function testing for PFD diagnosis.