Relationship between clinical symptoms and manometric findings in women with functional constipation

Functional constipation is a widely prevalent anorectal condition. The most commonly used instrument to evaluate constipation is the Rome III criteria. Clinical diagnostic techniques such as anorectal manometry is also performed to assess constipation. Issues of cost, accessibility, requirement for specialized skill and denial of patient comfort, makes its use waned. Rome III criteria can be used as an assessment tool easier than the other modalities, such as manometry. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical symptoms based on Rome III criteria with manometric findings in women with functional constipation. 35 female patients with a mean age of 38.51 10.24 years and functional constipation diagnosed by specialist were included in this study. After complication of Rome III criteria and background information questionnaire, digital evaluation and anorectal manometry were assessed. For data analysis SPSS software version 22, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient was used. Our results indicated significant negative correlation between the severity of Rome III criteria pressure of upper anal during squeeze and push maneuver, between rectal, upper anal resting pressure and level of gas or fecal incontinence and between rectal pressure of squeeze with number of delivery and also between severity of Rome III criteria and strength and endurance of pelvic floor muscles by digital assessment. Positive correlation between lower anal pressure during push and resting tone was observed (p<0.05). According to this study, the clinical assessment of patients with functional constipation, Rome III criteria and manual pelvic floor muscle examination such as strength and endurance, as a non-invasive and low cost method is recommended. However, to achieve an accurate diagnosis, in addition to the mentioned methods, the use of anorectal manometry is recommended.