Table 3.
Relationship between each finding on the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the objective parameters on anorectal manometry, balloon weight, balloon expulsion test (BET) and rectal area on scout film (RASF).
| Maximum resting pressure (mmHg) | p | Maximum squeeze pressure (mmHg) | p | Recto-anal pressure gradient (mmHg) | p | Balloon Weight (g) | p | Balloon Expulsion Time (sec) | p | RASF (cm2) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resting Pressure* | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | |||||||
| Increased** | 112.9 [82.4;144.9] |
<0.001 | −38.3 [−90.5; −6.1] |
0.02 | 470 [0; 564] |
0.6 | 16.0 [4.0; 60.0] |
0.6 | 1.1 [0.0; 17.7] |
0.8 | ||
| Decreased** | 52.4 [23.9;107.4] |
<0.001 | −5.2 [−30.7; 8.5] |
0.008 | 0 [0; 564] |
0.3 | 12.0 [3.0; 29.0] |
0.4 | 5.1 [0.0; 17.7] |
0.7 | ||
| Squeeze* | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.9 | |||||||
| Increased** | 279.2 [137.3;396.6] |
<0.001 | −70.7 [−173.8; 10.3] |
0.004 | 470break/>[0; 564] | 0.9 | 37.0 [14.0; 60.0] |
0.1 | 2.0 [0.0; 33.8] |
0.8 | ||
| Decreased** | 103.6 [75.0; 156.1] |
<0.001 | −14.1 [−58.1; 11.1] |
0.2 | 435 [0; 564] |
0.9 | 20.0 [2.0; 60.0] |
0.8 | 2.7 [0.0; 39.2] |
0.9 | ||
| Sphincter Relaxation* | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.009 | <0.001 | 0.05 | 0.3 | ||||||
| Paradoxical Contraction** | 94.7 [56.7; 134.7] |
0.5 | 161.5 [91.9; 213.3] |
0.9 | −30.6 [−89.0; 0.2] |
0.01 | 547 [0; 564] |
<0.001 | 22.0 [5.4; 33.7] |
0.6 | 2.5 [0.0; 25.4] |
0.9 |
| Impaired Relaxation** | 95.0 [64.7; 118.8] |
0.9 | 159.8 [76.4; 310.3] |
0.7 | −47.0 [−97.8; 24.1] |
0.07 | 564 [0; 564] |
0.003 | 60.0 [20.0; 60.0] |
0.03 | 7.8 [8.6; 48.5] |
0.2 |
| Puborectalis Tenderness$ | 99.8 [70.9; 137.8] |
0.001 | 167.6 [95.9; 280.0] |
0.5 | −37.1 [−83.8; −1.8] |
0.002 | 547 [0; 564] |
<0.001 | 15.0 [4.0; 60.0] |
0.6 | 3.2 [0.0; 25.1] |
0.3 |
| Absent Perineal Descent$ | 94.8 [56.5; 135.6] |
0.1 | 164.8 [84.4; 285.5] |
0.6 | −34.6 [−83.6; 0.0] |
<0.001 | 547 [0; 564] |
<0.001 | 22.0 [5.9; 60.0] |
0.2 | 2.7 [0.0; 24.2] |
0.9 |
*
p value compares DRE findings using ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test (**) for comparison with normal result; or 2-tailed t-test ($) for presence or absence of the other parameters