Obstructed defaecation: what is the role of rehabilitation?

• Published in: Colorectal disease 2012-04, Vol.14 (4), p.474-479
• Main Authors: Pucciani, F., Reggioli, M., Ringressi, M. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anal Canal - physiopathology; anorectal manometry; biofeedback; Biofeedback, Psychology; Combined Modality Therapy; Constipation - diagnosis; Constipation - physiopathology; Constipation - rehabilitation; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Enema; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Manometry; Middle Aged; multimodal rehabilitation programme; Obstructed defaecation; Prospective Studies; Rectum - physiopathology; rehabilitation; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1462-8910; 1463-1318
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2011.02644.x

Aim  The study was designed to evaluate the results of rehabilitative treatment in patients suffering from obstructed defaecation. Method  Between January 2008 and July 2010, 39 patients (37 women, age range 25–73 years; and two men, aged 57 and 67 years) affected by obstructed defaecation were included in the study. After a preliminary clinical evaluation, including the Obstructed Defaecation Syndrome (ODS) score, defaecography and anorectal manometry were performed. All 39 patients underwent rehabilitative treatment according to the ‘multimodal rehabilitative programme’ for obstructive defaecation. At the end of the programme, all 39 patients were reassessed by clinical evaluation and anorectal manometry. Postrehabilition ODS scores were used to categorize patients arbitrarily into three classes, as follows: class I, good (score ≤ 4); class II, fair (score > 4 to ≤ 8); and class III, poor (score > 8). Results  After rehabilitation, there was significant improvement in the overall mean ODS score (P