Volume 28, Issue 7 pp. 1133-1140
Gastroenterology

Biofeedback therapy in constipated, female patients and caused by radical hysterectomy or vaginal delivery

Soo-Kyung Park

Soo-Kyung Park

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Seung-Jae Myung

Corresponding Author

Seung-Jae Myung

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Correspondence

Seung-Jae Myung, Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. Email: [email protected]

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Kee Wook Jung

Kee Wook Jung

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Yoon Hee Chun

Yoon Hee Chun

Seoul Central Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Dong-Hoon Yang

Dong-Hoon Yang

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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So-Young Seo

So-Young Seo

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Hyun-Sook Ku

Hyun-Sook Ku

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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In Ja Yoon

In Ja Yoon

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Kyung Jo Kim

Kyung Jo Kim

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Byong Duk Ye

Byong Duk Ye

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Jeong-Sik Byeon

Jeong-Sik Byeon

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Hwoon-Yong Jung

Hwoon-Yong Jung

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Suk-Kyun Yang

Suk-Kyun Yang

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Jin-Ho Kim

Jin-Ho Kim

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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First published: 21 February 2013
Citations: 14
Potential competing interests: None.

Abstract

Background and Aim

Chronic constipation is frequently seen in women who have undergone hysterectomy or delivery. However, reports regarding anorectal physiologic features in those patients are rare. Patients with constipation associated with either radical hysterectomy or vaginal delivery were analyzed in order to clarify the anorectal physiologic features and the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy.

Methods

Of the constipated patients, a hysterectomy group (n = 40), delivery group (n = 41), and a control group (n = 89), who had no history of either surgery or delivery before developing functional constipation were included. Their anorectal physiological tests and the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy were investigated.

Results

The volume of desire to defecate was greater in the hysterectomy group than in the control group (86.5 ± 55.0 mL vs 62.9 ± 33.7 mL; P = 0.03), and more than 240 mL of maximal volume of toleration was more frequently noted in the hysterectomy group (32.5%) than in the delivery group (14.6%) and control group (13.5%) (P = 0.02).The failure of balloon expulsion was more frequently noted in the delivery group (44.0%) than in the hysterectomy group (15.0%) and control group (25.0%) (P = 0.01). The defecation satisfaction score was significantly increased after biofeedback therapy in the hysterectomy group (2.0 ± 2.7 vs 7.8 ± 1.5, P < 0.001), the delivery group (1.6 ± 2.1 vs 6.7 ± 2.0, P < 0.001), and the control group (2.5 ± 2.7 vs 6.9 ± 2.1, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Rectal hyposensitivity could have been the characteristic mechanism in the hysterectomy group, whereas dyssynergic defecation could have been the cause in the delivery group. Biofeedback therapy was effective for both groups.

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