Evaluation of Anal Sphincter with High Resolution Anorectal Manometry and 3D Reconstruction in Patients with Anorectal Malformation

Abstract

Background: Patients with anorectal malformation (ARM) need long-term follow-up, in order to evaluate fecal continence; the main predictors of longer-term success are the type of ARM, associated anomalies and sacral integrity. Three-Dimensional High Resolution Anorectal Manometry (3D-HRAM) gives detailed information on pressure on the anal complex profile. Our objective was to analyze anal sphincter activity in ARM patients with 3D-HRAM establishing the correlation between manometric and clinical data. Methods: Forty ARM patients were submitted to 3D-HRAM: manometric, anatomical and clinical scores were correlated with each other and with the bowel management response (BM). Results: A positive correlation between all scores and types of ARM was found: in high ARM and in patients with spinal anomalies (regardless to ARM type) lower scores were reported and even after BM they did not achieve good continence. Conclusions: 3D-HRAM gives detailed data on the functional activity of the anal sphincter complex. Our study revealed a correlation between manometric parameters and clinical outcomes, confirming spinal malformations and ARM type as the most important prognostic risk factors for a bad outcome. Specific sphincteric defects can also be explored with manometry, allowing for tailored bowel management strategies.

Anorectal developmental anomalies

“…На жаль, поширена помилка в діагности-ці виникає під час огляду промежини, коли вважають, що дівчінка має «неперфорований анус із ректовагінальною норицею», тоді як насправді всі три структури, сечовивідні шляхи, піхва та пряма кишка, зустрічаються в одному каналі та у дитини є клоака. Наявність єдиного отвору промежини є клінічним свідченням наявності у пацієнта стійкої клоаки [15,40].…”