The anorectal defaecation reflex: a prospective intervention study

Sanne J. Verkuijl*, Monika Trzpis, Paul M. A. Broens

*Corresponding author for this work

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    Abstract

    Aim Our hypothesis is that there may be a neural pathway with sensory afferent neurons in the anal canal that leads to rectal contraction to assist defaecation. We aimed to compare rectal motility between healthy participants with or without anal anaesthesia. Method This prospective intervention study consisted of two test sessions: a baseline session followed by an identical second session. During each session we performed the anal electrosensitivity test, the rectoanal inhibitory reflex test and rapid phasic barostat distensions. Prior to the second session, participants were randomly assigned to receive either a local anal anaesthetic or a placebo. Results We included 23 healthy participants aged 21.1 +/- 0.5 years, 13 of whom received an anal anaesthetic and 10 a placebo. All participants showed a transient rectal contraction during the first test session, which decreased significantly after anal anaesthesia (18.6 ml vs. 4.9 ml, p = 0.019). The maximum rectal contraction was comparable to the baseline results in the placebo group. Furthermore, the electrosensitivity at the highest centimetre of the anal canal correlated with the maximum rectal contraction (r = -0.452, p = 0.045). Conclusion All healthy study participants display an involuntary, reproducible rectal reflex contraction that appears to be innervated by afferent nerves in the proximal anal canal. The rectal reflex contraction appears to play a role in defaecation and we therefore refer to this phenomenon as the anorectal defaecation reflex. Knowledge of the anorectal defaecation reflex may have consequences for the diagnostics and treatment of constipation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)845-853
    Number of pages9
    JournalColorectal Disease
    Volume24
    Issue number7
    Early online date2-Mar-2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul-2022

    Keywords

    • anal canal
    • constipation
    • defecation
    • physiology
    • rectum
    • FECAL CONTINENCE
    • PHYSIOLOGY
    • BAROSTAT
    • INCONTINENCE
    • DISTENSION
    • SENSATION
    • TONE

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