Rectum sizes: Assessment by ultrasonography in children with functional constipation

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to compare the transverse diameter and thickness of the anterior wall of the rectum in children with normal bowel movement and children with functional constipation in different age groups. Another objective was to find correlations of rectum sizes with faecal incontinence and constipation duration. Methods In the study, we included children with normal bowel movement and functional constipation diagnosed based on the Rome III and Rome IV criteria. We collected clinical data from the parents. We measured the rectum transverse diameter and the thickness of the anterior wall by abdominal ultrasound. Results The study included 65 children, 31 with normal bowel movement and 34 with functional constipation. The rectum transverse diameter and the thickness of the anterior wall had statistically significant higher values in patients with constipation (P < 0.05). There was a moderate and significant correlation between the duration of the disease (mean ± standard deviation = 31.7 ± 33.1 months) and rectum transverse diameter (r = 0.54; P = 0.0009). The rectum transverse diameter correlated moderately with the presence of faecal incontinence (r = 0.62; P = 0.003), but the thickness of the anterior wall did not correlate with this symptom (r = 0.02; P = 0.39). Conclusions We found statistically significant differences between the transverse rectal diameter and thickness of the rectum anterior wall, measured by abdominal ultrasound, in children with functional constipation compared with normal defaecation patterns. Faecal incontinence and long‐term constipation were correlated with the increased rectum diameter.

Rectal measurements and their correlation with bowel habits: Evaluation by trans‐abdominal ultrasound in children with functional constipation

“…In their study, the mean duration of constipation was 29 months. Similar to our study, Pop et al 29 found a positive correlation between RTD and the duration of constipation. Pop et al 29 and de Abreu et al 30 also found a significant association between RTD and faecal incontinence, although this was not seen in our study.…”

“…Similar to our study, Pop et al 29 found a positive correlation between RTD and the duration of constipation. Pop et al 29 and de Abreu et al 30 also found a significant association between RTD and faecal incontinence, although this was not seen in our study. Previous studies have shown an inverse association between the frequency of defaecation with RTD and RAWT, 26,28 which is consistent with the results of our survey.…”

“…In a study by Pop et al, consisting of 65 children, there was a significant correlation between faecal incontinency and Rectum Transverse diameter ( P value: 0.003), 29 likewise, in a study by de Abreu et al, investigating 72 constipated patients among non‐constipated patients, there was a significant correlation between faecal incontinency and rectal diameter, 30 while in our study with 100 children with functional constipation, there was no statistically significant correlation between RTD and faecal incontinency ( P value: 0.290).…”

Measurement of Rectal Diameter and Anterior Wall Thickness by Ultrasonography in Children with Chronic Constipation

“… 12 In another study, re-evaluated rectal diameters after constipation treatment showed that measurements decreased after 4 weeks of polyethylene glycol treatment. 20 However, we could not re-evaluate our patients’ rectal diameter measurements after constipation treatment.…”

“…As the patients got older, the difference between them was smaller but still significant. 12 Doniger et al 19 and Pop et al 20 found a strong correlation between enlarged transrectal diameter and constipation. When rectal diameter was measured in the axial plane, it was found to be 31.72 ± 6.93 mm in the constipated patient group and 19.85 ± 4.37 mm in the control group ( P = .001).…”