P027 Anorectal Motility Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients

Costache, R.(1)*;Dimitriu, A.(1,2);Les, A.(1);Gheorghe, C.(1,2);

(1)Fundeni Clinical Institute, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bucharest, Romania;(2)“Carol-Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gastroenterology, Bucharest, Romania;

Background

In spite of prolonged disease remission of IBD patients, induced by the new biological molecules, a significant number of them suffer from persistent debilitating symptoms with major impact on the quality of life. Frequently, these symptoms are due to post-inflammatory motility changes and misinterpreted as functional disorders. Our aim is to identify and characterize the anorectal motility dysfunction in IBD patients.  

Methods

We are conducting an ongoing prospective study started in August 2019, which includes the IBD patients admitted in a Tertiary Gastroenterology Centre in Bucharest, with specific symptoms (anorectal pain, incontinence, difficult defecation). We perform high resolution anorectal manometry using Sandhill Scientific systems, the parameters being analysed using InSIGHT software. The manometric testing comprise measurements of anorectal pressure at rest, during squeeze, simulated evacuation, rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) and rectal sensory testing, in compliance with International Anorectal Physiology Working Group protocol.

Results

We studied 21 patients (12 patients with Ulcerative Colitis and 9 patients with Crohn’s Disease, 15 females and 6 males, mean age 40 (±11.43) years. Only 23.1% (5 patients) had rectal active involvement. Symptoms were reported by 81.0% (17) patients: pain (57.1%), anal incontinence (94.1%), difficult evacuation (29.4%), urgency (64.7%) and intolerance of rectal therapies (35.3%); rectal inflammation was not correlated with the presence of symptoms in our study group (p= 0.53). Modified manometric parameters were found in 81.0% patients and were associated with previous pelvic surgical interventions (p<0.05); although, the latter does not seem to increase the risk of incontinence (p=0.33). In 61.9% cases the manometric measurements correlated with the symptoms. 85% of the patients with passive incontinence presented lower resting pressure and 57.1% of those with active incontinence were found with lower squeeze pressures. Changes compatible with dyssynergia were detected in 61.9% of the cases. Sensory testing revealed alterations in 46.2% of patients, and RAIR was negative in 33.3% of the cases.

Conclusion

There is a considerable number of patients with anorectal motility changes. Therefore, pelvic floor investigation is an essential tool in the management of IBD patients with anorectal symptoms.