USE OF ANORECTAL MANOMETRY FOR OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF ANORECTAL FUNCTION AFTER POUCH ILEOANAL ANASTOMOSIS

Sixteen patients of ulcerative colitis and two of familial adenomatous polyposis were subjected to anorectal manometry, a minimal of three months after Pouch Ileo-Anal Anastomosis and closure of ileostomy. Using a perfusion catheter the parameters measured were resting anal pressure (RAP), maximum squeeze pressure (MSP), pouch volume and compliance at maximum tolerated volume. Subjective evaluation included anal continence and frequency of stools. The subjective functional results after surgery were then correlated with the objective findings of manometry. 4/18 patients (22%) had nocturnal incontinence only, while one patient (5%) had incontinence both by day and night. Frequency of stools was < 8/day in 10/18 patients (55%). Only 1/5 patients (20%) with incontinence had anal sphincter pressures greater than the controls while only 3/13 continent patients (22%) had anal sphincter pressures less than the controls. The study shows that low anal sphincter pressures are associated with post-operative incontinence and that there is a correlation between decreased frequency of stools and increased pouch volume as well as pouch compliance.