[Quality of life, symptoms of dyschezia, and anatomy after correction of rectal motility disorder].

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the quality of life of patients suffering from dyschezia and its correlation with symptomatic complaints and anatomical abnormalities, before and after elective surgery for rectal static disorder.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted using a general quality of life questionnaire (SF36) and a constipation specific score (PAC-QoL), a dyschezia symptom score, and defecography.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight female dyschesic patients (mean age 54 years) underwent surgery for rectocele with (n=16) or without (n=14) internal rectal prolapse, an isolated internal rectal prolapse (n=3), or a total rectal prolapse (n=5). Preoperative quality of life was low, correlated with the intensity of dyschezia. Seven months after surgery, quality of life and dyschezia improved independently of the amplitude of the anatomical correction. More items improved in the constipation specific score than on the quality of life questionnaire; they were correlated with the course of dyschezia symptoms. Neither incontinence nor irritable bowel syndrome affected evolution of the symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Surgery improved initially low quality of life and symptomatic complaints in patients with dyschezia and a rectal static disorder, independently of anatomic repair. Differences in changes observed in the PAC-QoL and SF36 suggest different fields of application.