Abstract
Anorectal manometry (ARM) is an objective, noninvasive study to assess the pressures of the anorectal canal thereby allowing the diagnosis of abnormalities and the subsequent application of appropriately tailored treatments. Presented in this chapter is a comprehensive, updated guide for the provider to understand and perform ARM in the pediatric population. First, the physiology of the anorectal canal is explained which highlights how fecal continence and defecation are achieved in the normal, healthy state. Additionally, the various types of ARM are explored emphasizing the two most commonly used techniques: water-perfusion and high-resolution manometry. Details of how to correctly perform the study, what measurements are obtainable and how to interpret study findings are thoroughly discussed. Incorporated in this discussion is a compilation of normal values pooled from multiple published data on pediatric ARM. Lastly, the chapter highlights abnormal conditions affecting anorectal function including Hirschsprung’s disease (HD), anal achalasia, neuromuscular disease, and dyssynergia, which the provider can ultimately diagnose or exclude through the help of ARM.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Hyman PE, Milla PJ, Benninga MA, et al. Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: neonate/toddler. Gastroenterology. 2006;130(5):1519–26.
Rasquin A, Di Lorenzo C, Forbes D, et al. Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent. Gastroenterology. 2006;130(5):1527–37.
Loening-Baucke V. Constipation in children. Curr Opin Pediatr. 1994;6(5):556–61.
Schuster atlas of gastrointestinal motility in health and disease. 2nd ed. Hamilton, ON: B.C. Decker; 2002.
Pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders. 1st ed. New York: Academy Professional Information Services, Inc; 1994.
Practical guide to anorectal testing. 1st ed. New York: Igaku-Shoin Medical Publishers, Inc; 1990.
Kumar S, Ramadan S, Gupta V, et al. Manometric tests of anorectal function in 90 healthy children: a clinical study from Kuwait. J Pediatr Surg. 2009;44(9):1786–90.
Rao SSC. Advances in diagnostic assessment of fecal incontinence and dyssynergic defecation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;8(11):910–9.
Rao SSC, Azpiroz F, Diamant N, et al. Minimum standards of anorectal manometry. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2002;14(5):553–9.
Di Lorenzo C, Hillemeier C, Hyman P, et al. Manometry studies in children: minimum standards for procedures. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2002;14(4):411–20.
Paskins JR, Lawson JO, Clayden GS. The effect of ketamine anesthesia on anorectal manometry. J Pediatr Surg. 1984;19(3):289–91.
Pfefferkorn MD, Croffie JM, Corkins MR, Gupta SK, Fitzgerald JF. Impact of sedation and anesthesia on the rectoanal inhibitory reflex in children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004;38(3):324–7.
Liu T, Yi C, Chen C, Liu H, Chen T. Influence of intravenous propofol sedation on anorectal manometry in healthy adults. Am J Med Sci. 2009;337(6):429–31.
Scott SM, Gladman MA. Manometric, sensorimotor, and neurophysiologic evaluation of anorectal function. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2008;37(3):511–38. vii.
Diamant NE, Kamm MA, Wald A, Whitehead WE. AGA technical review on anorectal testing techniques. Gastroenterology. 1999;116(3):735–60.
Puglia M, Fachnie E, Bercik P. A Comparison of high resolution and water-perfused manometry for anorectal disorders. Canadian Digestive Disease Week Abstract; 2009.
Jones MP, Post J, Crowell MD. High-resolution manometry in the evaluation of anorectal disorders: a simultaneous comparison with water-perfused manometry. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(4):850–5.
Heanue TA, Pachnis V. Enteric nervous system development and Hirschsprung’s disease: advances in genetic and stem cell studies. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007;8(6):466–79.
de Lorijn F, Kremer LCM, Reitsma JB, Benninga MA. Diagnostic tests in Hirschsprung disease: a systematic review. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2006;42(5):496–505.
Meunier P, Marechal JM, Mollard P. Accuracy of the manometric diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease. J Pediatr Surg. 1978;13(4):411–5.
Benninga MA, Omari TI, Haslam RR, et al. Characterization of anorectal pressure and the anorectal inhibitory reflex in healthy preterm and term infants. J Pediatr. 2001;139(2):233–7.
de Lorijn F, Omari TI, Kok JH, Taminiau JAJM, Benninga MA. Maturation of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex in very premature infants. J Pediatr. 2003;143(5):630–3.
de Lorijn F, Reitsma JB, Voskuijl WP, et al. Diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease: a prospective, comparative accuracy study of common tests. J Pediatr. 2005;146(6):787–92.
Mishalany HG, Woolley MM. Postoperative functional and manometric evaluation of patients with Hirschsprung’s disease. J Pediatr Surg. 1987;22(5):443–6.
Chumpitazi BP, Fishman SJ, Nurko S. Long-term clinical outcome after botulinum toxin injection in children with nonrelaxing internal anal sphincter. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009;104(4):976–83.
Blair GK, Murphy JJ, Fraser GC. Internal sphincterotomy in post-pull-through Hirschsprung’s disease. J Pediatr Surg. 1996;31(6):843–5.
Doodnath R, Puri P. Internal anal sphincter achalasia. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2009;18(4):246–8.
De Caluwé D, Yoneda A, Akl U, Puri P. Internal anal sphincter achalasia: outcome after internal sphincter myectomy. J Pediatr Surg. 2001;36(5):736–8.
Borrelli O, Barbara G, Di Nardo G, et al. Neuroimmune interaction and anorectal motility in children with food allergy-related chronic constipation. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009;104(2):454–63.
Lecointe-Besancon I, Leroy F, Devroede G, et al. A comparative study of esophageal and anorectal motility in myotonic dystrophy. Dig Dis Sci. 1999;44(6):1090–9.
Eckardt VF, Nix W. The anal sphincter in patients with myotonic muscular dystrophy. Gastroenterology. 1991;100(2):424–30.
Siddiqui A, Rosen R, Nurko S. Anorectal manometry may identify children with spinal cord lesions. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011;53(5):507–11.
Loening-Baucke V. Biofeedback treatment for chronic constipation and encopresis in childhood: long-term outcome. Pediatrics. 1995;96(1 Pt 1):105–10.
Rao SSC. Dyssynergic defecation and biofeedback therapy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2008;37(3):569–86. viii.
Rao SSC, Seaton K, Miller M, et al. Randomized controlled trial of biofeedback, sham feedback, and standard therapy for dyssynergic defecation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;5(3):331–8.
Chiarioni G, Whitehead WE, Pezza V, Morelli A, Bassotti G. Biofeedback is superior to laxatives for normal transit constipation due to pelvic floor dyssynergia. Gastroenterology. 2006;130(3):657–64.
Chiarioni G, Salandini L, Whitehead WE. Biofeedback benefits only patients with outlet dysfunction, not patients with isolated slow transit constipation. Gastroenterology. 2005;129(1):86–97.
Heymen S, Scarlett Y, Jones K, et al. Randomized, controlled trial shows biofeedback to be superior to alternative treatments for patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia-type constipation. Dis Colon Rectum. 2007;50(4):428–41.
van der Plas RN, Benninga MA, Büller HA, et al. Biofeedback training in treatment of childhood constipation: a randomised controlled study. Lancet. 1996;348(9030):776–80.
Benninga MA, Wijers OB, van der Hoeven CW, et al. Manometry, profilometry, and endosonography: normal physiology and anatomy of the anal canal in healthy children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1994;18(1):68–77.
Li Z, Dong M, Wang Z. Functional constipation in children: investigation and management of anorectal motility. World J Pediatr. 2008;4(1):45–8.
Sutphen J, Borowitz S, Ling W, Cox DJ, Kovatchev B. Anorectal manometric examination in encopretic-constipated children. Dis Colon Rectum. 1997;40(9):1051–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Le-Carlson, M., Berquist, W. (2013). Anorectal Manometry. In: Faure, C., Di Lorenzo, C., Thapar, N. (eds) Pediatric Neurogastroenterology. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-709-9_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-709-9_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-708-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-709-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)