Pelviperineology

Original Article

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Experimental Study No. 4: Abdominal pressure increase during anorectal closure is secondary to striated pelvic muscle contraction

PETER PETROS (*) - MICHAEL SWASH (**)

(*) Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia
(**) Dept of Neurology, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK

INTRODUCTION

Though questions have been raised concerning the validity of valvular-type theories for anorectal closure,¹ for many physicians, such theories still have currency, possibly because of their seductive simplicity: raised intra-abdominal presses the rectum down to increase the anorectal angle, and effect closure.² The aims of this study were to measure the abdominal pressures during "squeezing" (which interrupts defecation) and straining (which accelerates defecation). Simultaneous with this, surface cylindrical EMG electrodes were placed in the posterior fornix of vagina to confirm (or not) pelvic muscle contraction during the pressure rise. The Musculoelastic Theory as outlined in paper No. 1, predicts that organ movements are not caused by rise in intraabdominal pressure. Rather it is pelvic muscle contraction which causes organ stretching and anorectal closure, the rise in intraabdominal pressure being secondary.

The pressure and EMG studies were performed in 24 patients with no history of fecal dysfunction. Mean age was 50.5 years (range 29-71), parity 3 (range 1-7). Gaeltec microtip transducers were positioned in the bladder to measure the abdominal pressure during straining and also, "squeezing". Simultaneous EMG recordings were taken from the posterior vaginal fornix using a cylindrical probe. Within this group, 20 patients had urinary incontinence, and 4 were asymptomatic. Separate radiological studies were performed during straining and squeezing on another occasion.

RESULTS

Straining (Fig. 1) caused a similar rise in pressure (mean 29.75 cm water, range 0-72 cm) to that for "squeezing"
(Fig. 2) (mean 24.5cm water, range 4-92 cm ). EMG activity was noted in the posterior fornix of the vagina (the site of the puborectalis and levator plate muscles) both during straining and squeezing (Fig. 3).

DISCUSSION

Raised intra-abdominal pressure, a mainstay of valve-type theories for continence per se is unlikely to be a primary factor in anorectal closure. The bladder, proximal vagina and rectum are stretched backwards and downwards during straining (Fig. 1) and elevated forwards during 'squeezing' (Fig. 2) yet similar abdominal pressures were recorded. EMG activity simultaneous with pressure rise was recorded (Fig. 3), for both 'squeezing' and straining, indicating that the organ movements observed (Figs. 1, 2) were most likely activated by muscle activity. Furthermore, if raised intraabdominal pressure were a factor in anorectal closure, straining during defecation, a common event, would immediately cause cessation of emptying, not the acceleration generally observed. Sturmdorf (1919) ³ explained the anatomical basis for our observations of raised intra-abdominal pressure during pelvic floor contraction: "the levator ani is the tensor of the pelvic fascia, the antagonist of the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles, contracting when these opposing muscles contract and relaxing when they relax".

CONCLUSION

The results do not support the pressure theory's statement that anorectal intra-abdominal pressure rise is a major factor in maintaining anorectal continence.

REFERENCES

Correspondence to:

Prof. Peter Petros,
E-mail: kvinno@highway1.com.au