Anal manometry with microtransducer technique before and after restorative proctocolectomy. Sphincter function and clinical correlations.

Anal manometry, with microtransducer technique, was performed in 55 patients after restorative proctocolectomy. Forty-two patients were followed regularly from before surgery until 12 months after surgery, and 23 patients until 24 months of function. Postoperatively, sphincter function was severely impaired. At 12 months, the mean height was less than 60 percent, mean area less than 50 percent, and mean length less than 90 percent of the preoperative values of the high pressure zone. There was no improvement between 12 and 24 months. Mean maximal squeeze pressure was restored at 12 months. Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was constantly present preoperatively, but in only 4 of 30 patients, postoperatively. Those patients with preoperative resting pressure 100 cm H2O or greater had significantly higher resting tones at 12 months than those with less than 100 cm H2O. Patients with 5 or fewer bowel movements every 24 hours had significantly higher resting tones than those with more than 6 movements every 24 hours (66 vs. 45 cm H2O). Patients with deferral 60 minutes or greater had significantly higher resting pressures than those with deferral less than 30 minutes (65 vs. 44 cm H2O). No correlation was found between resting pressure and state of continence.