Background

Constipation is a major health problem as it is considered one of the most common digestive complains [1]. Ano-rectal dysfunction [ARD] is an important sub-type of this disorder as it is involving almost 50% of constipated patients [2], it is defined as the urge to defecate but impaired ability to expel the fecal bolus [3], patients who suffer from this syndrome complain of excessive straining, impaired rectal evacuation, pain and/or bleeding after defecation, and sometimes the need of manually assisted defecation [4].

Evaluation and treatment of those patients have been difficult as it needs assessment of the pelvic floor integrity and function in its three compartments: anterior containing urinary bladder, urethra, and prostate; middle containing vagina and uterus; and the posterior ano-rectal one [5]. As a result, many imaging modalities have been used for further characterization of pelvic floor abnormalities such as endoanal sonography and endoanal MRI [6] with the ability to detect anal sphincter complex and its pathological changes in refined anatomical details, but both fail to assess pelvic floor function [7].

For many years, fluoroscopic defecography was used to evaluate different causes of ARD including paradoxcial puborectalis contraction, increased perineal descent, rectocele, enterocele, and rectal intussusception, but this modality has its draw backs, as it cannot detect pelvic floor soft tissues, its projectional nature along with the ionizing radiation hazards [8]. Recently MR defecography emerged as a perfect modality considering its multiplanar capability, superior temporal resolution, and excellent soft tissue contrast in evaluating pelvic organs and soft tissues supporting structures in addition to assessing the defecation process in dynamic way [9].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the benefits of MR defecography in patients with ano-rectal dysfunction and its addition to the diagnosis and hence better management and outcome.

Methods

This prospective study included 30 patients with ano-rectal dysfunction, from May 2015 till October 2015, [12 males, 18 females, age range 20–77 years, mean age 48.5 ± 15.7] and control group included 10 healthy adults having normal bowel habit [4 males and 6 females, age range 25–62 years; mean age 43.5 ± 13.7]. Inclusion criteria include adult patients with chronic constipation for at least 3 months fulfilling at least 2 of the following according to “Rome Diagnostic Criteria III” for functional constipation [10], less than 3 motions per week, straining, hard stools, sensation of incomplete evacuation, sensation of ano-rectal obstruction, and manual assistance needed for defecation. Exclusion criteria were patients with 2ry constipation due to bad dietary habits, structural cause; as colonic strictures, tumors or volvulus, systemic diseases including metabolic and endocrinal disorders as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, hypokalemia, or hypercalcemia. Neurologic disorders as stroke, head injury, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson disease. Also, Hirschsprung disease and connective tissue disorders as amyloidosis and scleroderma.

Clinical assessment

Clinical evaluation was done to all patients by detailed history taking and physical assessment of abdomen and anal examination. Colonoscopy was done to all patients to exclude any obstructing cause like stricture, tumor or polyp. Also, Colon transit time was done to exclude patients with colonic inertia. Medical treatment was given to patients with ano-rectal dysfunction for 3 months in the form of bulk forming laxatives, and the patients that responded to the medical treatment were excluded from the study.

MR defecography was done to all patients needing no patient preparation with the explanation of the procedure done to the patients prior to the procedure to ensure their cooperation throughout the scanning. Consent was taken from all the patients along with human ethics committee approval from the institutional review board of the private hospital where the study took place.

Image acquisition

MR defecography was performed on 1.5 Tesla closed MR scanner “MAGNETOM Avanto, Siemens, Germany,” using a body-array-surface coil. First, the patient was on the left lateral decubitus to insert 300 ml ultrasound gel through a rectal tube then the examination was done while he/she was in the supine position with the hips and knee flexed, stimulating physiological defecation position. Initially static imaging was done to evaluate pelvic anatomical details by axial and coronal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence with the following parameters: TR/TE 4000/100, matrix size 256 × 256, FOV 25 mm–35 mm with RFOV 100%, slice thickness 4 mm, then dynamic imaging was performed using T2-weighted multiphasic 2D steady-state free precession sequence [SSFP] in the mid-sagittal plane through the anal canal with the following parameters: TR/TE 5.3/2.4, matrix size 320 × 220, FOV 40 mm, slice thickness 10 ml; this sequence was running for 2 min while the patient was instructed to strain till defecation occurs, acquiring about 250 images [2 image/s] and was repeated for another 2 min if the patient failed to defecate.

Image analysis

Images were analyzed by two different radiologists [4-year experience in reading MRD, and the findings were recorded by consensus of both] on a PACS workstation [SECTRA IDS7 Sweden]; first, static images were reviewed to detect any pelvic floor abnormality then dynamic mid-sagittal images were evaluated in the two phases: rest and defecation in cine loop mode.

Normally at rest, all the pelvic organs, namely urinary bladder base, vaginal vault, and peritoneal cavity [omental fat-small bowel-sigmoid colon] should be above the pubococcygeal line (PCL) which is the line joining the inferior border of the symphysis pubis and the last coccygeal joint. Also, at rest, the ano-rectal angle (ARA) which is formed between the posterior border of the rectum and the central axis of the anal canal is between 65 and 100° with no noticeable differences between males and females [11]; in straining the ARA increases and the perineum descends, its landmark is ano-rectal junction (ARJ) and it is considered normal when caudal migration is less than 2 cm relative to the resting position (Fig. 1). During defecation as a result of relaxation of the puborectalis muscle and anal sphincter, rectum and anal canal are in alignment causing more widening of the ARA [12]. Increase of the ARA less than 15–20° is considered abnormal [13].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a, b) at rest and (c, d) during defecation showing at rest rectum and bladder above the PCL and ano-rectal angle measuring 85°, c, d during defecation showing descent of ano-rectal junction 1.9 cm below the PCL [normal up to 2 cm] and increase in ano-rectal angle above 20° to be 111°

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Presence of organ descent was measured as the perpendicular distance of ARJ (rectal descent), bladder base (cystocele), vaginal vault (uterine prolapse), and omental fat-small bowel-sigmoid colon (enterocele) below PCL [14]. Its grading was as follows: mild 2–< 3 cm, moderate from 3 to < 6 cm, and severe = > 6 cm [15]. Also, detection of associated findings, like rectocele, rectal intussusception, and paradoxical puborectalis, was documented. Rectocele which is defined as anterior rectal wall protrusion beyond the rectal wall during defecation, and it is graded as follows: mild (< 2 cm), moderate (2–4 cm), and large (> 4 cm) [4]. Rectal intussusception which is internal invagination of the rectal wall, and it is classified according to the location into intra-rectal, intra-anal, and according to thickness into mucosal or full thickness [16]. Paradoxical puborectalis is detected when there is failure of puborectalis muscle to relax during defecation with an increase of the ARA less than 15–20° or even decrease [11].

Statistical analysis

IBM SPSS statistics (V. 25.0, IBM Corp., USA, 2017–2018) was used for data analysis. Data were expressed as mean ± SD for quantitative parametric measures in addition to both number and percentage for categorized data. Comparison between two dependent groups [clinical findings and MRD results] for parametric data using Z test was used. The probability of error at 0.05 was considered significant, while at 0.01 and 0.001 are highly significant.

Results

Fifty-nine cases complaining of constipation were evaluated, 18 cases responded to the medical treatment, and hence were excluded from the study, rest of the cases [41 cases] underwent colonoscopy, 3 cases were excluded due to presence of colonic mechanical obstruction (2 cases of benign strictures due to diverticulosis and 1 case of malignant mass) with the remaining 38 cases underwent colonic transit time excluding 4 more cases of colonic inertia with the rest of the 34 cases showed outlet obstruction pattern for whom MR defecography was done, and 4 cases were excluded due to inability to perform defecation during the examination.

Clinical assessment showed 10 cases of rectal descent and prolapse (33.3%) [6 cases were females and 4 cases were males], 12 cases of rectocele (40%) [10 cases were females and 2 cases were males], 4 cases of rectal intussusception (13.3%) [1 case was female and 3 cases were males], and 5 cases of cystocele (16.6%); all were in the female population. Two cases of uterine prolapse (11.1% of female population) and 3 cases of paradoxical puborectalis (10%); all in the male population with no enterocele detected clinically.

By MR defecography, rectal descent was detected in 21 cases (70%): 7 cases (33.3%) were severe [6 cases were females and 1 case was male] as seen in (Figs. 2, 3, and 4) and 14 cases (66.6%) were moderate [7 cases were females and 7 cases were males]. Fourteen cases of rectocele were observed (46.7%), 3 cases were large (10%); all were females (Fig. 3). Eleven cases were moderate (36.6%) [8 cases were females and 3 cases were males] (Fig. 2). Twelve cases of rectal intussusception (40%); all were intra-rectal. Four cases (13.3%) were full thickness [1 case was female and 3 cases were males] (Figs. 3 and 4). Eight cases (26.6%) were mucosal [2 cases were females and 6 cases were males] (Fig. 2). Cystocele was seen in eight cases (26.7%): five cases moderate (16.7%) (Fig. 2), and three cases mild (Fig. 3) (10%); all were females showing statistically high significance than males with P value 0.002. Uterine prolapse was seen in five cases (27.7% of female cases): three cases were moderate and two cases were mild. Four cases (13.3%) showed enterocele one was severe, and it was a female (Fig. 3); three were moderate [two cases were females and one case was male] (Fig. 4). Failure of puborectalis to relax during defecation was detected in nine cases (30%) [two cases were females and seven cases were males], three cases with no other abnormality detected; all were males (Figs. 5 and 6). The rest six cases were four males and two females; all showed moderate rectal descent along with paradoxical puborectalis. Paradoxcial contraction of the muscle was seen in 6 cases (Figs. 5 and 6) while 3 cases showed increase in ARA angle ≤ 10° (Fig. 7).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a) at rest and (b–d) during defecation showing moderate cystocele (3.3 cm), severe rectal descent (7.2 cm), and moderate anterior rectocele (2.6 cm) with evidence of mucosal intussusception [arrow]

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a) at rest and (b–e) during defecation showing large anterior rectocele (4.8 cm), mild cystocele (2.2 cm), severe both enterocele (6 cm), and rectal descent (8 cm) with evidence of full-thickness intussusception [arrow]

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Fig. 4
figure 4

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a) at rest and (b–d) during defecation showing severe rectal descent (7 cm), moderate enterocele (4.5 cm) with evidence of full-thickness intussusception [arrow]

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a) at rest showing ano-rectal angle measuring 110°, b during defecation showing decrease in ano-rectal angle measuring 90° suggestive of paradoxical puborectalis

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Fig. 6
figure 6

Mid-sagittal SSFP obtained (a) at rest showing ano-rectal angle measuring 99°, b during defecation showing decrease in ano-rectal angle measuring 82° suggestive of paradoxical puborectalis

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Fig. 7
figure 7

Mid-sagital SSFP obtained (a, b) at rest and (c, d) during defecation showing at rest ano-rectal angle measuring 106°, c during defecation there is minimal increase in ano-rectal angle measuring 112 [< 10°] denoting failure of puborectalis to relax associated with (d) moderate rectal descent 4.8 cm

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MR defecography showed statistically significant difference over clinical findings in detecting rectal descent, rectal intussusception, enterocele, and paradoxical puborectalis with no significant difference in detecting rectocele, cystocele, and uterine prolapse (Table 1). Both clinical assessment and MRD findings show predominance of the structural causes of ano-rectal dysfunction in females while functional one as in paradoxical puborectalis was predominant in males (Tables 2 and 3).

Table 1 Comparison between clinical findings and MRD findings
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Table 2 Comparison between male and female clinical findings
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Table 3 Comparison between male and female MR findings
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Discussion

Ano-rectal dysfunction (ARD) is of complex etiology requiring a multidisciplinary approach to assess the pelvic floor anatomy and function is its three compartments [17]; mostly, it is treated medically but nearly 20% of cases need surgery, and each surgery should be tailored according to the precise cause of ARD to obtain optimal results and to decrease both complications and recurrence [18].

Paradoxical puborectalis contraction is one of the commonest causes of functional constipation [19] where the puborectalis muscle fails to relax or even contracts during defecation causing no appreciable increase or even decrease in ARA resulting in ARD [20]. The etiology of this condition is unclear [21], and its diagnosis depends on both physical examination and ano-rectal physiologic testing, like ano-rectal manometry and anal/pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), but both have certain limitations as voluntary contraction of puborectalis muscle can occur due to anxiety to rectal examination itself, and the EMG has false-positive results caused by pain from the needle placement [22]; on the other hand, MR defecography can detect this pathological action of puborectalis muscle by measuring ARA during rest and during defecation and if there is less than 15–20° widening or even decrease in the ARA detected in the latter phase diagnosis is made directing those patients to non-surgical treatment. like biofeedback therapy [9]. In the current study, there was statistically significant difference between clinical assessment and MRD findings, with the capability of the latter to measure changes in ARA during defecation and this was in agreement with the findings of Nikjooy et al. [9] that showed abnormal ARA changes had sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 92%, PPV of 95%, and NPN of 92% in differentiating patients with this disorder from normal subjects.

Structural causes of ARD include descending perineum syndrome which is abnormal pelvic floor descent during straining, and it is due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments from pudendal nerve injury as a result of obstetric trauma or chronic straining, it can occur in any of the three compartments of the pelvis; most of the times, more than one compartment is simultaneously involved [23]. In this study only 1 compartment involvement was detected in 17 cases (56.6%), 2 compartments in 8 cases (26.6%), and 3 compartments in 2 cases (6.6%) (Table 4). The importance of this finding is directing the treatment plan to target more than one compartment to avoid recurrence of symptoms.

Table 4 Number of pelvic compartment affected by MRD
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Rectal descent was the most frequent finding in the current study representing 70%, which was in agreement with Rentsch et al. [24] findings being 60% and El-Nashar et al. [25] being 65% and were more in females than males with no statistically significant difference, and this was in accordance with the results of Savoye et al. [26].

The second most frequent finding was anterior rectocele representing 46.7%, and it was more frequent in females (78.5%) with the large ones [> 4 cm] were only detected in females; this result was similar to most of the studies evaluating rectocele showing significantly higher percentage among females [27], with some studies like Dietz and Clarke [28] and Carter and Gabel [29] included only female population. In spite that rectocele can be detected clinically and in the current study, there was no statistically significant difference between the clinical findings and MRD findings, but better evaluation of the rectocele size, emptying and presence of associated findings can only be achieved by imaging [5].

Enterocele was found in 4 patients 13.3 %, being more predominate in female population with none could be detected clinically showing superiority of MRD in detecting it, which is important prior to surgical treatment to avoid bowel injury [4]. Rectal intussusception was detected in twelve cases (40%), all were intra-rectal, four cases (13.3%) were full thickness [One case was female and three cases were males], eight cases (26.6%) mucosal [Two cases were females and six cases were males]. Cystocele represented 26.7% were only detected in females as it is due to weakness of the pubo-cervical fascia from obstetric trauma. Uterine prolapse was seen in 5/18 cases presenting 27.7%.

The current study showed that the additional data obtained from MRD over the clinical evaluation play an important role in adjusting the treatment plan regarding non-surgical management as starting by biofeedback and physiotherapy in cases involving paradoxical puborectalis with surgical treatment decision was adjusted after diagnosing coexisted pathology by MRD from perineal operation to abdominal/combined operation after diagnosing multiple pathologies in the same compartment or different compartments.

Conclusion

MR defecography is essential in the work up of patients complaining of ano-rectal dysfunction by providing valuable information to the physician aiming for proper management decreasing both complications and recurrence.