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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Sep 6.
Published in final edited form as: Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jun;2(3):323–335. doi: 10.1586/17474124.2.3.323

Figure 1. Rectal sensory testing after balloon distention.

Figure 1

These tracings show intrarectal balloon pressures during balloon distension with increments in balloon volume together with the sensory responses. (A) Rectal balloon distention test in a normal subject, who reported first sensation at less than 40 cc balloon distension, urge to defecate at 160 cc and the MTV at 190 cc. (B) A patient with rectal hypersensitivity with lower sensory thresholds, with an urge to defecate (40 cc), pain (70 cc) and MTV (100 cc). (C) A subject with rectal hyposensitivity with first sensation (130 cc) and a slight desire to defecate at 180 cc and much higher threshold for urge to defecate. DD: Desire to defacate; MTV: Maximal tolerated volume.