Clinical indications for anorectal function investigations

Interest in anorectal function investigation tests has increased, and new investigation techniques have been introduced, gaining new insight in the pathogenesis of fecal incontinence and constipation. Normal values in anorectal function tests have shown a large overlap between controls and patients with fecal incontinence or constipation. Therefore, the pure clinical indications for the individual anorectal function tests are small, and the strength comes from combining these test results. When the patient is not eligible for surgery or biofeedback, there is no indication to perform anorectal function tests. Guidelines for selective use of anorectal function tests are given. In patients with fecal incontinence, the clinical consequence of demonstrating severe pudendal neuropathy is not yet clear. Defecography is important to demonstrate an intussusception as a treatable cause of incontinence. In patients with constipation an anal EMG (of defecography) can diagnose the spastic pelvic floor syndrome, which should be treated with relaxation exercises or biofeedback. Patients with other anorectal diseases, patients receiving a stoma, and patients considered for reanastomosis operation after (partial) colectomy may benefit from anorectal function tests.