Rectum sizes: Assessment by ultrasonography in children with functional constipation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Colorectal Health

Background:

• Functional constipation is a common pediatric condition affecting bowel movements.
• Accurate diagnosis and understanding of rectal morphology are crucial for effective management.
• Abdominal ultrasound offers a non-invasive method to assess rectal dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare rectal transverse diameter and anterior wall thickness in children with and without functional constipation.
• To investigate the correlation between rectal dimensions and symptoms like fecal incontinence and constipation duration.

Main Methods:

• Abdominal ultrasound was used to measure rectal transverse diameter and anterior wall thickness.
• Children were categorized into normal bowel movement and functional constipation groups based on Rome III and IV criteria.
• Clinical data, including constipation duration and fecal incontinence, were collected from parents.

Main Results:

• Children with functional constipation exhibited significantly larger rectal transverse diameters and thicker anterior rectal walls (P < 0.05).
• A moderate, significant correlation was found between constipation duration and rectal transverse diameter (r=0.54, P=0.0009).
• Rectal transverse diameter showed a moderate correlation with fecal incontinence (r=0.62, P=0.003), while anterior wall thickness did not.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal ultrasound reveals significant differences in rectal dimensions between children with and without functional constipation.
• Increased rectal diameter is associated with longer constipation duration and the presence of fecal incontinence in pediatric patients.