Our concept of defecography. Methods and reproducibility of results

Defecography is used in the Czech Republic only exceptionally. Since 1988 the authors made 402 defecographic examinations. They submit a detailed description of hitherto assembled experience and their own modification of the examination. As contrast material they use at present Micropaque susp. thickened by means of wheat bran. They administer it by means of a modified press for dough preparation. The X-rays are taken on a modified ordinary stool made from soft timber. For screening of uncovered places in the visual field they use individually placed copper plates 2 mm thick. For better evaluation of the X-rays the authors place during examination an X-ray contrasting net behind the patient. Pictures are taken at rest, during contraction, during modified Valsalva's manoeuvre and during all stages of defecation. The authors mention the most interesting pathological pictures they encountered so far--internal prolapse, levator hernia, rectocele, sphincter defect, various forms of prolapses and dyskineses of the pelvic floor. In the authors opinion the basic quantifiable parameters are the magnitude of the anorectal angles. They used the assessment method described by Mahieu, as well as the mediorectal angle which in their opinion is a reflection of the patient's somatotype and levator function. More than the absolute values of the angles they emphasize the difference of the two angles and change of the latter during contraction and defecation. In their opinion enlargement of the difference during contraction and diminution to values close to zero is normal. Converse values are according to the authors evidence of dyssynergy of the pelvic floor. Independent assessment of the angles and magnitude of the lift of the pelvic floor by three subjects are subjected to statistical analysis. They provide evidence of complete reproducibility of results of anorectal angles according to the authors' definition. The results of assessment can be used to investigate relations with parameters of anorectal manometry (AM) or transrectal sonographyy (TRS) in subsequent investigations.