The study on Anorectal Motility in Patients with Functional Constipation

Objective To study anorectal motility in patients with functional constipation(FC). Methods Anorectal pressures were measured with manometry system (CTD-synectics corporation, Sweden) in 22 FC patients aged ≥60 (elderly group) and 10 patients aged 60 (younger group). Anorectal pressuers in 20 healthy volunteers≥60 and 10 healthy volunteers 60 were also studied as controls. Results There were no significant differences in rectal resting pressure, anal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure and minimum relaxation volume to elicit rectal anal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) between younger FC patients and younger control group (P0.05). The rectal primary sensitivity and maximum tolerance in younger FC patients were significantly higher than those in younger volunteers (P0.01,P0.05 respectively). There were no significant differences in rectal resting pressure and maximum squeeze pressure between elderly FC patients and elderly healthy volunteers (P0.05); however, anal resting pressure, minimum relaxation volume to elicit RAIR, rectal primary sensitivity and maximum tolerance were all significantly higher in elderly FC patients than those in elderly controls (P0.05).Conclusion The constipation in younger patients may be related to rectal lower sensitivity and higher tolerance. Functional constipation in elderly patients may be also related to low sensitivity and higher tolerance,as well as the fact that internal anal sphincter (IAS) could not relax in time to expanding of rectum.