We hypothesize that defecatory disorders can be described in mechanical terms which would allow a mechanistic description of disorders which would in turn allow better directed biofeedback mechanisms to treat disorders of defecation.

Condition	Intervention
Constipation	Procedure: defecography

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  30

Disorders of defecation are very common and the process of defecation remains poorly described. This results in a limited approach to treatment of patients, with limited success. This study will simultaneously measure multiple components of the process of defecation - the abdominal wall and perineal muscle activity, the pressure within the rectum and in the anal canal and the change in shape of the anorectal region of the colon, in order to develop a biomechanical model which can describe the normal and abnormal defecatory process. It is anticipated that, by understanding the process in these terms will allow a new approach to categorizing and describing defecation problems which in turn will lead to more specific approaches of treatment which will be tailored to individual patients. These parameters will compared in volunteers with no defecatory disorders and patients with defecatory disorders who are being referred for defecography as part of their clinical evaluation.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years   -   80 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

Controls

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women
• No defecatory problems
• On no medication which affect bowel habits

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy

Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

• Difficulty in defecation
• Women

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Medication which can affect bowel movement

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00219518

Ann Ouyang, MD      717-531-8741    aouyang@psu.edu
Helena F Wrzos, MD,PhD      717-531-5125    hwrzos@psu.edu

Pennsylvania
      Hershey Medical Center, Hershey,  Pennsylvania,  17033,  United States

Study chairs or principal investigators

Ann Ouyang, MD,  Principal Investigator,  Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center   

Study ID Numbers:  HY03-368
Last Updated:  September 21, 2005
Record first received:  September 14, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00219518
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-09-27