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Manometric study of the voluntary inhibition action in normal volunteers

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

PURPOSE: A voluntary inhibition action whereby a voluntary squeeze of the external sphincter causes reflex relaxation of the rectum has been previously proposed but not proven. Such a reflex would enable the subject to defer defecation to a socially acceptable time. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not such a reflex exists. METHODS: We measured rectal compliance with and without a voluntary squeeze using a specially designed balloon catheter in nine subjects. RESULTS: When corrected for increased intra-abdominal pressure caused by inadvertent Valsalva's maneuver during voluntary squeezing, there was a significant increase in rectal compliance during voluntary contraction of the external sphincter (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This lends support to the proposed existence of the voluntary inhibition action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Surgery, Episcopal Hospital and The Medical College Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    David Levien M.D., Susanne Bennett Clark Ph.D., William Rosenthal M.D. & Eric Gross M.D.

  2. Division Of Gastroenterology at New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York

    David Levien M.D., Susanne Bennett Clark Ph.D., William Rosenthal M.D. & Eric Gross M.D.

Authors
  1. David Levien M.D.
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  2. Susanne Bennett Clark Ph.D.
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  3. William Rosenthal M.D.
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  4. Eric Gross M.D.
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Additional information

Supported by a grant from The Research Foundation of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

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Levien, D., Clark, S.B., Rosenthal, W. et al. Manometric study of the voluntary inhibition action in normal volunteers. Dis Colon Rectum 37, 770–774 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050140

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