Avaliação de aspectos anatômicos e funcionais do canal anal e da musculatura pubovisceral de mulheres com incontinência fecal

Abstract

Fecal incontinence has a major impact on quality of life and affects up to 24% of women and vaginal delivery is one of the main risk factors. Patients with this condition require a specialized evaluation for proper patient management. The aim of this study was evaluate the anatomical and functional aspects of the anal canal and pelvic floor using anorectal three-dimensional ultrasonography combined with transvaginal and anorectal manometry in the evaluation of anal sphincters and pubovisceral muscle (MPV) disruptions in incontinent women with vaginal delivery. As well to correlate the severity of symptoms of fecal incontinence with the findings of ultrasound and manometry and establish a new sonographic scoring system for patients with fecal incontinence with muscle injury. Clinical evaluation was performed with the Cleveland Clinic Florida incontinence score (CCF), functional evaluation with anorectal manometry and anatomical assessment with three-dimensional ultrasound. In this study 63 patients were included with a mean age of 61 years. Most patients (35/56%) had intact MPV and sphincter injury. Of the 28 patients who had injury in MPV, 9 (32.1%) had no sphincter injury. The area of the levator hiatus increased significantly in the Valsalva maneuver in patients with lesions in the MPV. The median incontinence score and ultrasonographic score were significantly higher in patients with lesions in the MPV. The average of contraction pressure in the patients with injury MPV was significantly lower than those with intact MPV. A significant correlation between CCF incontinence scores and sonographic scores was found. There was also a significant correlation between incontinence scores and the length of the sphincter as well as in relation to the hiatus area. It was concluded that there is a high prevalence of sphincter and MPV lesions in incontinent women with previous vaginal delivery. In addition, the severity of the fecal incontinence symptoms is significantly related to the defects of these musculature. A new ultrasound score can improve the management of these patients.