Defecation function of children patients after treatment with biofeedback training

Wei WANG; Liwei SHI; Zhengwei YUAN; Weilin WANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Encopresis after operation for congenital.ectopic anus can cause psychological, physiological and social ability disorders.

OBJECTIVE:

To treat the children with encopresis with biofeedback training so as to improve the function of post-operative defecation.

DESIGN:

A self-controlled trial.

SETTING:

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Clinical College of China Medical University.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 20 cases of encopresis after treatment with operation for ectopic anus,were recruited from the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Clinical College of China Medical University, between January 1998 and October 2004. Among them, there were 4 cases of complete encopresis, 7 cases of loose encopresis and 9 cases of blotch. All the cases were followed up. There were 9 cases of ectopic anus in the middle and lower parts, and 11 cases of ectopic anus at the high part.

METHODS:

The objective measuring methods of biofeedback training such as anorectal pressure and anus sphincter electromyography were used to train the patients with postoperative encopresis. After one-month self-directed training in anus contraction and defecation habit, the children received proper biofeedback training. ① Biofeedback training to strengthen the muscles around the anus twice per day. The portable biofeedback-training machine was taken home after the children patients could automically contract the muscles around the anus 3 weeks later. ② Biofeedback training to improve rectal sensitivity and coordination of anus sphincter, and repeated training in expanding saccus. A normal defecation reflex was established. Anus sphincter presented reflex contraction to prevent encopresis once the rectum expanded. ③ Defecation training was performed for 30 minutes after meals every day. ④ Electrostimulation combined with biofeedback training was performed for 10 minutes twice a day for 3 or 4 consecutive weeks.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

① The maximum contraction anal pressure, vector volume, and electromyographic amplitude of external sphincter of anus; ② positive rate of anorectal contraction reflex of the children patients before and after training.

RESULTS:

According to actual treatment analysis, all the 20 children patients entered the result analysis. ① In middle and lower parts groups, the maximum contraction anal pressure increased from (11.87±5.61) kPa before training to (24.88±16.58) kPa after training; in high part group, they increased from (5.76±3.84)kPa to (18.18±13.71) kPa (P＜ 0.05). ② In middle and lower parts groups, the vector volume increased from (139.17±130.02) cm (cm Hg)2 to 608.10±131.06 cm·(cmHg)2, whereas in high group it increased from (117.01±74.35) cm(cm Hg)2 to (452.17±69.43) cm(cm Hg)2 (P＜ 0.05). ③ In middle and lower parts groups, the electromyographic amplitude of external sphincter of anus increased from (152.20±37.42) μV to (324.12±67.78) μV; in high part group, it rose from (114.08±51.41)μV to (266.18±49.38)μV (P ＜ 0.05). ④ The positive rate of anorectal contraction reflex improved from pretraining 55％ (11/20) to post-training 90％ (18/20).

CONCLUSION:

After biofeedback training, the maximum contraction anal pressure, anorectal sensitivity and the coordination of anus external sphincter, defecation habit, and contractibility of external sphincter of anus were all improved obviously, especially in those with ectopic anus in the middle or lower parts. Anus external sphincter function can be improved to the uttermost so as to cure encopresis.