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Is barium trapping in rectoceles significant?

S Halligan¹, C I Bartram

¹Department of Radiology, St. Mark's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum

|July 1, 1995

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Rectocele size and contrast trapping do not significantly impact constipation symptoms. These proctographic findings should not be directly blamed for evacuation difficulties in patients with rectoceles.

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Pelvic Floor Disorders
Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

Rectocele, a common condition in women, involves the bulging of the rectum into the vagina.
Constipation is a frequent symptom associated with rectocele, but the significance of rectocele size and contrast retention remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the clinical significance of rectocele size and contrast retention in constipated female patients.
To determine if these proctographic findings correlate with impaired rectal evacuation.

Main Methods:

Utilized evacuation proctography and simultaneous intrarectal pressure measurements.
Compared three groups: constipated patients with rectoceles, those with contrast trapping (>10%), and a control group without rectoceles.

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Employed computerized image analysis to quantify rectocele dimensions and evacuation efficiency.

Main Results:

No significant differences in rectocele size, anorectal angle, pelvic floor descent, or anal canal width were observed between groups.
Evacuation time, completeness, intrarectal pressure, and the need for digital maneuvers did not differ significantly.
Contrast trapping (barium trapping) was associated with an abrupt drop in intrarectal pressure, suggesting sequestration into the vagina.

Conclusions:

Large rectocele size and contrast trapping do not appear to directly cause impaired rectal evacuation.
These proctographic findings alone should not be attributed as the primary cause of evacuation problems in constipated patients.