[Normal values for high-resolution anorectal manometry in a healthy women: effects of age and maternity].

BACKGROUND

High-resolution manometry (HRM) is increasingly used in the evaluation of anorectal disorders. However, the normal values of HRM have not been widely evaluated. Anorectal pressure patterns are known to be possibly influenced by maternity status in women, but the normal values of HRM in parous and non-parous asymptomatic women have not been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, for the first time, the normal values HRM in asymptomatic parous and non-parous women.

METHODS

Sixteen asymptomatic healthy females (age: 18-63 years) were enrolled into this study, and among them, 11 were parous women. HRM was performed using solid-state manometric assembly with 9 circumferential pressure sensors (MMS, Netherlands). Measurements of external and internal anal sphincter pressure at rest, during voluntary contraction and during rectal balloon distension were compared..

RESULTS

In asymptomatic parous women mean external anal sphincter resting pressure (69.9 ± 13.2) was significantly lower then anal pressure (101.2 ± 22.9) in healthy non-parous women. No differences were found between groups in internal sphincter pressure, voluntary contraction or during balloon distension.

CONCLUSIONS

The found difference in resting external sphincter pressure between parous and non-parous women have to be taken in account when HRM is used for evaluation of functional defecatory disorders. Further studies for establishing of normal values of anorectal HRM in larger group of healthy controls are badly needed.