Manometric changes of anorectal fistula before and after the anal fistula surgery

[Objective]To evaluate the anorectal function of anal fistula using mamometric monitoring before and after anal fistula surgery. [Methods]The anorectal manometric findings such as Rectal Anal Reflex (RAR), Anal squeeze pressure (ASP), anal longest contraction time (ALCT), rectal rest pressure (RRP) and anal resting pressure (ARP) were recorded in 88 anal fistula cases and 80 normal healthy volunteers. All the manometric findings of lower and higher anal fistulas in two stages and the findings of healthy subjects were compared. Normal healthy subjects were considered as controls. [Results]Anorectal reflexes of postoperative anal fistula patients were weaken in different extent. But, the weaking extent in higher fistula group was not statistically different compared with that of normal healthy subjects. Rectal resting pressure, anal resting pressure and anal squeeze pressure in higher fistula patients were obviously lower than that of lower fistula group and normal healthy subjects (P 0.01).[Conclusions] The severity of the anal sphincter injury has a direct influence on anal function. Anorectal manometry could provide a useful objective tool for evaluating anal sphincter function before and after anal fistula surgery.