Abstract
Anorectal manometry under anesthesia was performed in 18 children, 15 of whom had long histories of constipation and had been on regular regimens of laxatives and enemas with no success. In these 15 patients, Hirschsprung's disease had not been demonstrated by barium enema. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with ketamine (intravenously or intramuscularly) in 16 patients, while halothane was used in the other two. It was found that anesthesia did not affect the events that are usually documented during anorectal manometry in the awake patient. In patients with a history of constipation, after mamometry, a rectal suction biopsy was taken, followed by a therapeutic anal stretch. Results of biopsies confirmed the manometric findings in all patients. Results of the present study demonstrate that ketamine may be used to anesthetize young patients suffering from chronic constipation for the purpose of performing anorectal manometry and taking a rectal suction biopsy (to exclude Hirschsprung's disease), followed by a therapeutic anal stretch.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Clayden GS, Lawson JO. Investigation and management of long-standing chronic constipation in childhood. Arch Dis Child 1976;51:918–23.
Lawson JO, Nixon HH. Anal canal pressures in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. J Pediatr Surg 1967;2:544–52.
Meunier P, Mollard P. Control of the internal and sphincter (manometric study with human subjects). Pflügers Arch 1977;370:233–9.
Aaronson I, Nixon HH. A clinical evaluation of anorectal pressure studies in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Gut 1972;13:138–46.
Meunier P, Mollard P, Jaubert de Beaujeau M. Manometric studies of anorectal disorders in infancy and childhood: an investigation of the physiopathology of continence and defection. Br J Surg 1976;63:402–7.
Boston VE, Scott JE. Anorectal manometry as a diagnostic method in the neonatal period. J Pediatr Surg 1976;11:9–16.
Bentley JF. Faecal soiling and anal achalasia. Arch Dis Childhood 1978;53:185–6.
Lake BD, Puri P, Nixon HH, Claireaux AE. Hirschsprung's disease: an appraisal of histochemically demonstrated acetylcholinesterase activity in suction rectal biopsy specimens as an aid to diagnosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1978;102:244–7.
Takehara H, Kimura H, Kuramoto M, et al. Diagnosis of ultra-short-segment aganglionosis. J Jap Soc Pediatr Surg 1978;14:553–61.
Aldridge RT, Campbell PE. Ganglion cell distribution in the normal rectum and anal canal: a basis for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease by anorectal biopsy. J Pediatr Surg 1968;3:475–90.
Nissan S, Bar-Maor JA, Levy E. Anorectal myomectomy in the treatment of short segment Hirschsprung's disease. Ann Surg 1969;170:969–77.
Lynn HB, van Heerden JA. Rectal myectomy in Hirschsprung disease: a decade of experience. Arch Surg 1975;110:991–4.
Scobie WG, MacKinlay GA. Anorectal myectomy in treatment of ultrashort segment Hirschsprung's disease: report of 26 cases. Arch Dis Child 1977;52:713–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work, the results of which are presented in this paper, was carried out at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, England.
About this article
Cite this article
Constantinides, C.G., Nixon, H.H. Anorectal manometry under anesthesia in the investigation of children with chronic constipation. Dis Colon Rectum 25, 125–130 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553254
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553254