Evaluation of the Rectal Reflex Using Anal Acoustic Reflectometry

NCT02782377 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 2016GA002
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Anal Acoustic Reflectometry (AAR) is a reliable and reproducible technique that has been studied in our department over the last 6 years. Sound waves pass into a balloon placed in the anal canal and are used to measure the cross-sectional area. By gradually increasing and decreasing the pressure in the balloon the investigators can measure the pressure at which the cross-sectional area starts to increase and decrease, and the anal canal starts to open and close. This assessment mimics the natural opening and closing of the anal canal and the effect of squeezing the muscles. The gold standard investigation of the anal sphincter muscles has been manometry which measures anal canal pressure at rest and during squeeze. However, it has limitations. In previous studies AAR has shown promise in the assessment of faecal incontinence and, that unlike manometry, it has been able to distinguish between different types of incontinence. The Recto-anal Inhibitory Reflex (RAIR) is a normal response when the rectum fills with faeces, fluid or air, whereby there is a change in the pressures within the anal canal to determine the type of contents. This can be absent or altered in patients who have difficulty in opening their bowels. The RAIR is currently measured by anal manometry using a 4.9mm catheter, resulting in an anal canal which is already partially opened prior to the measurement, and potentially distorted. AAR is considered a catheter free technique as the balloon has a cross-sectional area of only 0.4mm2 when collapsed. The investigators propose to measure the RAIR using a 1.7mm diameter catheter alongside the AAR balloon to determine the effect that its placement has on the recorded parameters of AAR. This aims to improve our understanding of the opening and closing of the anal canal in response to distension of the rectum.

Conditions

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Keywords

Faecal Incontinence; Obstructive Defaecation; Rectal Prolapse

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Opening Pressure

  Measurements of differences in Opening pressure (Op - cm H2O) as measured by the AAR catheter. These measurements are taken at baseline with the rectal balloon collapsed (Pre-RAIR) and after inflation of 100mls air into rectal balloon (Post-RAIR).

  during single study visit- measurement taken prior to balloon inflation and post balloon inflation

• Opening Elastance

  Measurements of differences in Opening Elastance (Oe - cm H2O/mm2) as measured by the AAR catheter. These measurements are taken at baseline with the rectal balloon collapsed (Pre-RAIR) and after inflation of 100mls air into rectal balloon (Post-RAIR).

  during single study visit- measurement taken prior to balloon inflation and post balloon inflation

• Closing Pressure

  Measurements of differences in Closing Pressure (Cp - cm H2O) as measured by the AAR catheter. These measurements are taken at baseline with the rectal balloon collapsed (Pre-RAIR) and after inflation of 100mls air into rectal balloon (Post-RAIR).

  during single study visit- measurement taken prior to balloon inflation and post balloon inflation

• Closing Elastance

  Measurements of differences in Closing Elastance (Ce - cm H2O/mm2) as measured by the AAR catheter. These measurements are taken at baseline with the rectal balloon collapsed (Pre-RAIR) and after inflation of 100mls air into rectal balloon (Post-RAIR).

  during single study visit- measurement taken prior to balloon inflation and post balloon inflation

• Hysteresis

  Measurements of differences in Hysteresis (%) as measured by the AAR catheter. These measurements are taken at baseline with the rectal balloon collapsed (Pre-RAIR) and after inflation of 100mls air into rectal balloon (Post-RAIR). Hysteresis is the extent of energy expenditure during opening and closing of the anal canal and represents the difference between opening and closing pressure and is expressed as a percentage

  during single study visit- measurement taken prior to balloon inflation and post balloon inflation

Study Arms (1)

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Observational study where patients with pelvic floor dysfunction undergo three AAR measurements. One at baseline, one with the catheter alongside and a third with the rectal balloon inflated. No intervention is performed Note, that initial inclusion of Squeeze parameters was detailed in error, these were not compared in this study and were compared in previous study

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients presenting to the pelvic floor clinic and neurogastroenterology with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction

You may qualify if:

• Adults over 18 years old
• Have capacity to consent to the study
• Patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

You may not qualify if:

• Minors under the age of 18 years old
• Patients who lack capacity to consent
• Patients with known rectal tumours and proctitis
• Asymptomatic patients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital of South Manchester

Manchester, Greater Manchester, M23 9LT, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (9)

• Klarskov N, Saaby ML, Lose G. A faster urethral pressure reflectometry technique for evaluating the squeezing function. Scand J Urol. 2013 Dec;47(6):529-33. doi: 10.3109/21681805.2013.776629. Epub 2013 Mar 19.

  PMID: 23506115 BACKGROUND

• Hornung BR, Mitchell PJ, Carlson GL, Klarskov N, Lose G, Kiff ES. Comparative study of anal acoustic reflectometry and anal manometry in the assessment of faecal incontinence. Br J Surg. 2012 Dec;99(12):1718-24. doi: 10.1002/bjs.8943.

  PMID: 23132420 BACKGROUND

• Saaby ML, Klarskov N, Lose G. Urethral pressure reflectometry before and after tension-free vaginal tape. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012 Nov;31(8):1231-5. doi: 10.1002/nau.22239. Epub 2012 Mar 27.

  PMID: 22457059 BACKGROUND

• Klarskov N. Urethral pressure reflectometry. A method for simultaneous measurements of pressure and cross-sectional area in the female urethra. Dan Med J. 2012 Mar;59(3):B4412.

  PMID: 22381095 BACKGROUND

• Mitchell PJ, Klarskov N, Telford KJ, Hosker GL, Lose G, Kiff ES. Viscoelastic assessment of anal canal function using acoustic reflectometry: a clinically useful technique. Dis Colon Rectum. 2012 Feb;55(2):211-7. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0b013e31823b2499.

  PMID: 22228166 BACKGROUND

• Mitchell PJ, Klarskov N, Telford KJ, Hosker GL, Lose G, Kiff ES. Anal acoustic reflectometry: a new reproducible technique providing physiological assessment of anal sphincter function. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Sep;54(9):1122-8. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0b013e318223fbcb.

  PMID: 21825892 BACKGROUND

• Cheeney G, Nguyen M, Valestin J, Rao SS. Topographic and manometric characterization of the recto-anal inhibitory reflex. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Mar;24(3):e147-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01857.x. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

  PMID: 22235880 BACKGROUND

• Heywood NA, Sharma A, Kiff ES, Klarskov N, Telford KJ. Placement of a fine-bore rectal balloon catheter in the anal canal does not affect anal sphincter pressures: improving our understanding of physiological function with anal acoustic reflectometry. Colorectal Dis. 2020 Nov;22(11):1626-1631. doi: 10.1111/codi.15300. Epub 2020 Aug 30.

  PMID: 32770704 DERIVED

• Heywood NA, Sharma A, Kiff ES, Klarskov N, Telford KJ. A novel method for measurement of the recto-anal inhibitory reflex using anal acoustic reflectometry. Colorectal Dis. 2020 Nov;22(11):1632-1641. doi: 10.1111/codi.15110. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

  PMID: 32367609 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Encopresis; Rectal Prolapse

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Elimination Disorders; Mental Disorders; Rectal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Prolapse; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Nick Heywood
• Organization: University Hospital of South Manchester

nheywood@doctors.org.uk

+447739002473

Study Officials

• Karen J Telford, MBChBMDFRCS

  University Hospital of South Manchester

  STUDY CHAIR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 21, 2016
• First Posted: May 25, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2016
• Study Completion: April 1, 2017
• Last Updated: December 2, 2020
• Results First Posted: March 30, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)