Defaecography: A Radiological Investigation for Defaecation Disorders

Physicians are frequently consulted by patients with defaecation disorders. Clinical and endoscopic evaluation of their symptoms is not always easy. In the case of rectal prolapse or intussusception, for instance, the condition, even if suspected, is sometimes difficult to prove, since many patients are reluctant to push down while being examined. My colleague and I therefore found that it would be useful to include in the workup of such symptoms an objective test [1] in order to reveal possible functional causes of defaecation disorders and to determine the most appropriate medical or surgical treatment.