2820 Mt. Rushmore Road
Rapid City, SD 57701
Anorectal manometry is a test performed to evaluate patients with constipation, fecal incontinence, or other possible disorders that may involve the anorectal sphincter. This test measures the pressures of the anal sphincter muscles, the sensation in the rectum, and the neural reflexes that are needed for normal bowel movements.
Give yourself one or two Fleet® enemas two (2) hours prior to your study. You can purchase the Fleet enema from a pharmacy or supermarket. As this procedure does not involve sedation, you may continue to eat and take your normal medications up until the time of the procedure.
The test takes approximately 15-25 minutes. A technician or nurse will explain the procedure to you, take a brief health history, and answer any questions you may have. You will be asked to lie on your left side. A small, flexible tube, about the size of a thermometer, with a balloon at the end is inserted into the rectum. The catheter is connected to a machine that measures the pressure. During the test, the small balloon attached to the catheter may be inflated in the rectum to assess the normal reflex pathways. The nurse or technician may also ask you to squeeze, bear down, and cough at various times. The anal sphincter muscle pressures are measured during each of these maneuvers. To squeeze, you will tighten your sphincter muscles as if trying to prevent anything from coming out. To push or bear down, you will as if trying to have a bowel movement.
The anal and rectal area contains specialized muscles that are helpful to regulate the proper passage of bowel movements. Normally, when stool enters the rectum, the anal sphincter muscle tightens to prevent the passage of stool at an inconvenient time. If this muscle is weak or does not contract in a timely way, incontinence (leakage of stool) may occur. Normally, when a person pushes or bears down to have a bowel movement, the anal sphincter muscles relax. This will cause the pressures to decrease allowing evacuation of stool. If the sphincter muscles tighten when pushing, this could contribute to constipation. Anal manometry measures how strong the sphincter muscles are and whether they relax as they should during passing a stool. It provides helpful information to the doctor in treating patients with fecal incontinence or severe constipation. There are many causes of fecal incontinence. Weak anal sphincter muscles or poor sensation in the rectum can contribute to fecal incontinence. If these abnormalities are present, they can be treated.
Biofeedback techniques using anal manometry and special exercises of the pelvic floor muscles can strengthen the muscles and improve sensation. This can help treat fecal incontinence. There are many causes of constipation. Some involve sluggish movement through the whole colon, whereas others involve the anal sphincter muscles. In some patients with constipation, the anal sphincter muscles do not relax appropriately when bearing down or pushing to have a bowel movement. This abnormal muscle function may cause a functional type of obstruction. Muscles that do not relax while bearing down can be retrained with biofeedback techniques.
Anorectal manometry is a safe, low-risk procedure and is unlikely to cause any pain. After the examination, you may drive yourself home and go about your normal activities.