Abstract

BARBOSA LOPEZ, Yordanka; ACOSTA HERNANDEZ, Yorelis  and  HERRERA PEDROSO, Aimara Ileana. Defecography to diagnose pelvic floor disorders. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2012, vol.41, n.2, pp. 214-218. ISSN 0138-6557.

The purpose of the present paper is to describe the imaging technique known as defecography and foster its use in the study of pelvic floor disorders. To conduct the examination, a fluroscope is required with a special defecography chair attached to it. The chair should not be opaque to x-rays, its size and height should be appropriate for the digital fluoroscopy unit, and it should offer the possibility of recording images during the act of defecation. A contrast medium (barium sulfate paste) with a consistency similar to that of fecal matter will be inserted into the patient's rectum. It is concluded that the method is effective to reveal a large number of functional and morphological anorectal and pelvic floor alterations, and is well tolerated by patients. It has been adapted for and applied to research, and has proven to be suitable and to provide the data required for an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords : defecography; pelvic floor; rectocele; enterocele; sigmoidocele; perineocele; rectal prolapse.

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