Prevalence of rectoanal inhibitory reflex in chagasic megacolon.

BACKGROUND

Rectoanal inhibitory reflex is not always evident in patients with chagasic megacolon. This may be due to insufficient volumes of air used during insufflation for the manometric examination.

AIMS: To identify the volume of air necessary to induce rectoanal inhibitory reflex in patients with chagasic megacolon and to observe its prevalence in these individuals.

METHODS

Rectoanal inhibitory reflex in 39 patient with chagasic megacolon was studied by means of anorectal manometry using the balloon method. The balloon was insufflated using sequential volumes up to 300 mL to induce reflex.

RESULTS

Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was identified in 43.6% of the patients using a mean volume of 196 mL of insufflated air (standard error = 13.5).

CONCLUSION

Rectoanal inhibitory reflex can be induced in patients with chagasic megacolon when greater volumes of air are used.