Defective Conduction of Anorectal Afferents Is a Very Prevalent Pathophysiological Factor Associated to Fecal Incontinence in Women
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
;
: 423-435, 2019.
Artigo
em Inglês
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-765951
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Fecal incontinence (FI) is a prevalent condition among women. While biomechanical motor components have been thoroughly researched, anorectal sensory aspects are less known. We studied the pathophysiology of FI in community-dwelling women, specifically, the conduction through efferent/afferent neural pathways.METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 women with FI and 19 healthy volunteers. The functional/structural study included anorectal manometry/endoanal ultrasound. Neurophysiological studies including pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) and sensory-evoked-potentials to anal/rectal stimulation (ASEP/RSEP) were conducted on all healthy volunteers and on 2 subgroups of 42 and 38 patients, respectively.RESULTS:
The main conditions associated with FI were childbirth (79.00%) and coloproctological surgery (37.10%). Cleveland score was 11.39 ± 4.09. Anorectal manometry showed external anal sphincter and internal anal sphincter insufficiency in 82.85% and 44.00%, respectively. Sensitivity to rectal distension was impaired in 27.42%. Endoanal ultrasound showed tears in external anal sphincter (60.57%) and internal anal sphincter disruptions (34.80%). Abnormal anorectal sensory conduction was evidenced through ASEP and RSEP in 63.16% and 50.00% of patients, respectively, alongside reduced activation of brain cortex to anorectal stimulation. In contrast, PNTML was delayed in only 33.30%. Stools were loose/very loose in 56.70% of patients.CONCLUSIONS:
Pathophysiology of FI in women is mainly associated with mechanical sphincter dysfunctions related to either muscle damage or, to a lesser extent, impaired efferent conduction at pudendal nerves. Impaired conduction through afferent anorectal pathways is also very prevalent in women with FI and may play an important role as a pathophysiological factor and as a potential therapeutic target.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
WPRIM (Pacífico Ocidental)
Assunto principal:
Canal Anal
/
Lágrimas
/
Encéfalo
/
Estudos Transversais
/
Ultrassonografia
/
Parto
/
Potenciais Evocados
/
Incontinência Fecal
/
Nervo Pudendo
/
Voluntários Saudáveis
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo diagnóstico
/
Estudo observacional
/
Estudo de prevalência
/
Fatores de risco
Limite:
Feminino
/
Humanos
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
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