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PubMed1996

Defecation habits of cats and dogs and contamination by Toxocara eggs in public park sandpits.

The defecation habits of cats and dogs in three sandpits in urban public parks were observed by camcorder. Cats were the main cause of fecal contamination of these sandpits. Most (80%) feline defecations occurred at night between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. Each of the sandpits was used habitually as a defecation site by 4-24 cats, but these cats seemed to defecate elsewhere, as well. Fecal deposits within the sandpits were evenly distributed and did not tend to be concentrated in one area, suggesting that the cats avoided previously deposited feces when choosing a place to defecate. One sandpit was strongly contaminated and two were weakly contaminated with Toxocara eggs. Because sandpits are widely used as play areas for young children, effective sanitation measures should be implemented to prevent the contamination of sandpits by Toxocara eggs.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Observations on the feeding and defecation patterns of three triatomine species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

A comparative laboratory study of feeding and defecation behavior of three species of tritomines (Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma infestans and T. dimidiata) indicated evident differences among the species and among the different stages of same species. Time required for a full blood meal was related to the size of the specimen. Insects required an average of 11-28 min for engorgement although some finished within 10 min. T. dimidata frequently interrupted the act of feeding, a probable explanation of the higher number of defecations before finishing a blood meal observed in the species. R. prolixus was superior to the other two species in number of defecating insects and in rapidity and frequency of defecations within a given time. T. dimidiata was inferior in all three parameters and T. infestans was intermediate. Males of all species tended to be less effective. A "defecation index" is proposed for comparing this different behavior in triatomine specimens under standard conditions. Effectivity of the insects according to the measured parameters is discussed in relation to the prevalence of Chagas' disease in those areas where they are principal vectors.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In utero defecation: a new concept.

According to the current concepts, the human fetus does not defecate, and passage of meconium into the amniotic fluid is an indicator of fetal distress. However, the literature consists of reports in which fetal defecation is postulated to be a physiologic event. In light of these reports and our observation, we have developed the hypothesis that fetal defecation is a physiologic event independent from fetal distress and associated with a clearance mechanism of the amniotic fluid. This hypothesis has been proved by a series of experimental studies. We have shown that goat fetuses defecate the contrast medium into the amniotic cavity in the absence of fetal distress. We have clearly demonstrated for the first time the transport of radioactive meconium through the gastrointestinal tract into the amniotic fluid by using a radiopharmaceutical agent. It is known that the clearance mechanism of the amniotic fluid is suppressed under fetal distress conditions. We suggest that meconium stained amniotic fluid is not related to meconium passage due to fetal distress; rather, it reflects impaired clearance of amniotic fluid containing meconium because of physiologic in utero defecation. This is discussed in detail with a review of the literature.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1997

Red howling monkey use of specific defecation sites as a parasite avoidance strategy

Red howling monkeys, Alouatta seniculusin the central Amazonian basin move to specific sites before defecating. Differences in the vegetation profile of behavioural sites, defecation sites and random sites within the ranging area of howler groups were examined. The defecation sites used differed in the number of leaf intercepts at the levels of the forest the monkeys used for foraging and travelling. Defecating in areas free of underlying vegetation decreases the likelihood of contaminating potential food sources or arboreal pathways. This defecation behaviour may be an important parasite avoidance strategy of red howling monkeys.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Biopsychosocial treatment of defecation problems in children with anal atresia: a retrospective study.

In a retrospective study, we examined whether multidisciplinary treatment based on a biopsychosocial approach and carried out by a pediatric surgeon, a child psychologist, and a pediatric physiotherapist is successful in reducing defecation problems (incontinence and/or constipation) in children with operated anal atresia (AA) (mean age 6.9 +/- 4.01 years). A second question was whether this treatment is successful in young children aged 2-5 years. The multidisciplinary approach consisted of standard medical treatment and a behavioral program to teach children and their parents adequate defecation behavior including an adequate straining technique. Forty-three children aged 2-16 years were included: 27 boys and 16 girls with AA, of whom 26 had high or intermediate and 17 low AA. Besides continence and constipation, defecation behavior and straining technique were evaluated. The children improved significantly during treatment in all aspects of defecation. No differences in effect of treatment were found between young children (2-5 years) and older ones, so this treatment seems to be equally effective in both age groups. This study demonstrates that both somatic and behavioral factors contribute to the persistence of chronic defecation problems. It is concluded that treatment of these problems in patients with operated AA should include behavioral modification techniques.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

The effect of feeding on defecation behaviour in pigs.

The effect of eating on defecation behaviour was investigated in four 20-30 kg pigs. Rectal distention stimulation was performed pre- and postprandially at 10 cm from the anus with a 5 cm latex balloon. Volume was increased in steps of 10 ml up to 200 ml of air or until balloon defecation. Dependent measures were volume, rectal pressure, determined with a solid state pressure transducer inside the balloon probe, rectal compliance, and an index of distention induced contractile activity. The volume and pressure required to elicit defecation was significantly lower after feeding (p less than 0.01). Distention induced contractile activity was significantly increased near defecation threshold, but pre- and postprandial conditions were not different. There was no difference in rectal compliance pre- and postprandially. These results suggest that eating lowers defecation threshold in terms of distention volume and rectal pressure, and that these changes are not dependent on altered rectal compliance or changes in distention induced motor activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Effects of biofeedback therapy on anorectal function in obstructive defecation.

Biofeedback therapy improves symptoms in patients with constipation and obstructive defecation. Whether it also improves anorectal function is unclear. Our purpose was to investigate prospectively the effects of biofeedback therapy on subjective and objective parameters of anorectal function in 25 consecutive patients with obstructive defecation. Biofeedback therapy consisted of pelvic floor relaxation exercises (phase I) and neuromuscular conditioning of rectal sensation and rectoanal coordination, with a solid state manometry system and simulated defecation maneuvers (phase II). The number of sessions was customized for each patient. Clinical improvement was assessed from the changes in anorectal manometry, balloon (50 cc) expulsion test, and the symptom and stool diaries. The number of therapy sessions varied [mean (range) = 6 (2-10)]. After therapy, when straining as if to defecate, the percentage anal relaxation, intrarectal pressure, and defecation index increased (P < 0.001). The balloon expulsion time, laxative consumption, and straining effort decreased (P < 0.001). Before therapy, 16/25 (64%) patients had impaired rectal sensation, and after therapy this improved (P < 0.001). After therapy, 15/25 (60%) patients reported > or = 75% satisfaction with bowel habit and 8/25 (32%) reported > or = 50% satisfaction (P < 0.001); 15/16 (94%) patients discontinued digital disimpaction. Biofeedback therapy not only improves subjective but also objective parameters of anorectal function in at least 76% of patients by rectifying the underlying pathophysiologic disturbance(s). Sensory conditioning and customizing the number of sessions may offer additional benefits.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Difficulty in defecation in infants with gastroesophageal reflux treated with smaller volume feeds thickened with rice cereal.

We prospectively evaluated the incidence of difficulty in defecation in infants with gastroesophageal reflux who were treated with smaller volume feeds thickened with rice cereal and also assessed the effect of changing the cereal to oatmeal. We evaluated 53 thriving infants with uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux who were treated with smaller volume feeds thickened with rice cereal. Parents maintained records of bowel movements for 7 days. Rice was substituted by oatmeal cereal in those infants developing difficulty in defecation and another 7 days' record was kept. Of the 53 infants enrolled, 34 (64%) reported no difficulty in defecation, 8 (15%) reported mild difficulty, and 11 (21%) reported severe difficulty in defecation during rice-based feedings. In these symptomatic 19 infants, after rice was substituted by oatmeal cereal, 10 infants (52.6%) reported no symptoms, 6 (31.6%) had mild symptoms, and 3 (15.8%) continued to have severe symptoms. We conclude that difficulty in defecation is common during treatment of infants with gastroesophageal reflux with smaller volume feeds thickened with rice cereal. Substitution of rice with oatmeal cereal results in partial or complete resolution of symptoms in most of these infants.

Avena↗

PubMed1993

Voluntary suppression of defecation delays gastric emptying.

We wished to test the hypothesis that colonic loading with fecal material leads to delayed gastric emptying. Twelve healthy male volunteers were studied. Each of these subjects went through two randomized study periods of four days. In one of these, the subjects defecated upon urge, in the other period defecation was voluntarily suppressed. Gastric emptying of a semisolid meal (mashed potatoes) was measured with the noninvasive applied potential tomography technique. On day 3 no significant changes in gastric emptying were found, but on day 4 the emptying rate had decreased from 85.8 +/- 11.0%/hr (mean +/- SEM) to 70.3 +/- 10.9%/hr (P < 0.05) and the T50 had increased from 38.5 +/- 3.4 min to 46.2 +/- 4.0 min (P < 0.025). The duration of the lag phase (4.1 +/- 1.5 min) was not significantly altered by suppression of defecation. Our conclusion is that voluntary suppression of defecation delays gastric emptying in normal subjects. This "cologastric brake" may be involved in the pathogenesis of upper abdominal symptoms in constipated patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography in defecation disorders.

UNLABELLED: A number of physiologic and radiologic investigations are used in investigating defecation disorders. Defecography is one important part of these investigations. However, a correct diagnosis of an enterocele is sometimes difficult despite use of contrast media in the rectum, vagina, and small bowel. PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to ascertain if it was technically possible to perform simultaneous defecography and peritoneography in an effort to improve the diagnostic possibilities in patients with defecation disorders. METHODS: Twelve patients with defecation disorders and an unexplained widening of the rectovaginal space at defecography were investigated. Contrast medium was introduced intraperitoneally, after which conventional defecography was performed. RESULTS: All investigations were carried out without complications and demonstrated the peritoneal outline in all patients. Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography differentiated between an enterocele and a pathologically deep pouch of Douglas--a peritoneocele. Three types of peritoneocele were visualized: vaginal peritoneocele, septal peritoneocele, and rectal peritoneocele with or without enterocele. Combinations of the three types were also found. Eight of the 12 patients had rectal intussusception or rectal prolapse. All of these eight patients had a rectal peritoneocele. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography can be performed without technical difficulties or complications. Peritoneal outlines and pouches can, therefore, be studied directly during the act of defecation. An unexplained widening of the rectovaginal space at defecography can be clarified as a peritoneocele, with or without an enterocele. Peritoneocele can be of three different types: rectal, septal, or vaginal.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Dynamic anal manometry in the assessment of patients with obstructed defecation.

Patients with obstructed defecation show no consistent abnormalities when assessed by standard anorectal physiologic methods. With a recently developed technique for dynamic anal manometry, we studied 13 female patients with obstructed defecation and 20 healthy volunteers. Seven parameters of anal function were measured. There were no differences between the median values for the two groups. Seven patients (54 percent; 95 percent confidence limits, 25-81 percent) had anal compliance below the normal range, either during opening or closing of the sphincter at rest (five patients), during squeeze (one patient), or both (one patient). Opening and closing pressures of the sphincter at rest, maximal closing pressure during squeeze, and anal hysteresis were normal. Standard anal manometry did not show any differences between patients and controls. Rectal compliance was lower in patients with obstructed defecation, median difference 5 ml/cm H2O (95 percent confidence limits, 1-9 ml/cm H2O). In conclusion, the more detailed method of dynamic anal manometry shows that some patients with obstructed defecation have a less compliant anal sphincter and a less compliant rectum, but in many patients no abnormal findings can be made.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Manometric patterns of rat colonic motor activity and defecation. Effect of selective 5HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT.

We investigated in conscious and unrestrained rats, the major patterns of colonic pressure waves, as related to defecation. A manometric low compliance perfusion system, which was set at a very low flow rate (0.03 ml/min), permitted simultaneous recordings of intraluminal pressure in the proximal, transverse, and distal colon. Pressure waves in control rats reflected two types of motor activity: short-duration waves (< 15 sec), that were frequent throughout the colon (about 40-90/hr with aborally decreasing frequency), and propulsive, long-duration, high-amplitude waves (> 15 sec, > 15 mm Hg) that occurred only occasionally (1/hr or less) in the transverse and distal, but not in the proximal colon; these waves appeared to migrate aborally and were associated with defecation. The serotonin 5HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT dramatically and dose-dependently increased the frequency of long-duration, high-amplitude waves in the transverse and distal colon, and concurrently promoted defecation; these effects were prevented by the putative 5HT1A antagonist pindolol. We conclude that 5HT1A agonists such as 8-OH-DPAT may promote defecation and occurrence of propulsive waves through the same serotoninergic mechanism.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

PubMed2000

Obstructed defecation after undiverted ileoanal pouch reconstruction for ulcerative colitis: pharmacologic approach. Report of a case.

PURPOSE: Obstructed defecation after ileal pouch construction has been reported only after closure of the diverting loop ileostomy, and biofeedback was an effective treatment modality. METHOD: This is a case report of a patient with immediate obstructed defecation after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis without a covering loop ileostomy and its successful pharmacologic management. RESULTS: A 38-year-old female underwent restorative proctectomy and stapled ileal J-pouch-anal anastomosis without a covering loop ileostomy. On the seventh postoperative day, her pouch catheter (in lieu of a covering loop ileostomy) was removed and she failed to evacuate. After ruling out any technical complications, diltiazem was commenced with successful spontaneous pouch emptying. Obstructed defecation reoccurred after cessation of diltiazem one week later, but the symptoms resolved once the diltiazem was recommenced. CONCLUSIONS: Obstructed defecation has been reported in patients after pelvic pouch reconstruction. However, in all those patients a diverting loop ileostomy had been raised and their obstructive symptoms were only apparent after closure of the ileostomy and when the pouch had healed. The concern regarding our patient was the complete outlet obstruction so soon after surgery, with undue strain on the anastomosis and the potential risk of disruption. Our only two options were either to create a diverting loop ileostomy or to try a fast-acting pharmacologic agent (diltiazem) to treat the presumed levator spasm. The latter option spared the patient a further operation.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1989

Self washout method for defecational complaints following low anterior rectal resection.

A self washout method was performed by ten patients who had defecational complaints following an anterior resection. A commercially available colostomy washout set was used for this procedure. When the patient sat down, the cone tip of the set was pressed into the anal canal by pushing the cone with the palm of the hand. The volume of water for irrigation used was 500 to 1000 ml and the subsequent defecation time was from 20 to 50 minutes. In all cases, the frequent urge to defecate disappeared and after normal defecational function had been recovered, the self washout was able to be discontinued.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR): a new option in the treatment of obstructive defecation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Rectocele and distal intussusception are organic causes of outlet obstruction. A new surgical option called the stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) is described within a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with symptomatic rectocele (four females), rectocele with coexistent intussusception (eight females), and intussusception (two males) underwent STARR procedure. The symptoms were measured by means of a defecation score (0-20 points). RESULTS: Complications included local bleeding postoperatively in two cases, and temporary ischuria in four cases. The subjective sense of pain was low; from day 1 postoperatively five patients did not need any analgetics. Only one female patient had prolonged pelvic pain, without any organic reason. All patients showed improvement in rectal evacuation. The mean score of defecation (0-20 points) decreased from 13+/-3 to 4+/-3 after 1 month (p<0.05) and remained low. The overall follow-up was 19+/-9 months. Only one male patient with intussusception had defecation disorder again 6 months after surgery. Three patients had temporary urge incontinence. CONCLUSION: STARR is an effective therapy for obstructive defecation disorder due to a symptomatic rectocele and/or a distal intussusception.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed2005

Impaired proximal colonic motor response to rectal mechanical and chemical stimulation in obstructed defecation.

PURPOSE: Both motor and sensory dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obstructed defecation. We have found that despite preservation of a defecatory urge, patients with obstructed defecation have lost the normal predefecatory augmentation in frequency and amplitude of colonic propagating pressure waves. This observation might be explainable by either altered rectal sensory thresholds or by dysfunction in the colonic motor apparatus. By measuring rectal sensory thresholds and proximal colonic motor responses to rectal mechanical and chemical stimuli, we tested the hypotheses that central perception of rectal stimuli is enhanced and that the proximal colonic motor response to rectal stimulation is attenuated. METHODS: In seven patients with obstructed defecation and ten healthy volunteers we measured proximal colonic motor responses and sensory thresholds in response to both rectal balloon distention and rectal instillation of chenodeoxycholic acid. RESULTS: In controls, but not in patients, rectal mechanical distention significantly reduced and chemical stimulation significantly increased the frequency of proximal colonic propagating sequences (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference in rectal sensory thresholds between patients and controls. Prior instillation of chenodeoxycholic acid significantly reduced (P < 0.03) maximum tolerated balloon volume and defecatory urge volume to comparable degree in both patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: In obstructed defecation, 1) the normal rectocolonic pathways mediating stimulation-induced proximal colonic propagating pressure waves are nonfunctioning, and. 2) central perception of these rectal stimuli is normal.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Effects of neonatal castration and testosterone injection on adult open-field behaviour in rats with atypical sex difference in defecation.

In the open-field test, male rats usually defecate more and ambulate less than females. A strain was studied in which the males defecate less than females, while still ambulating less. Infants of this strain were castrated (males) or injected with testosterone propionate (females) and tested in the open field as adults. There were significant effects of these neonatal treatments on ambulation, but not on defecation, in contrast to previous reports for the latter measure in rats showing a sex difference in defecation taking the usual direction. It is suggested that absence of the usual direction of a sex difference normally under the developmental control of androgen may indicate a genotype which has escaped from such control. Finally, a number of 'sibling' effects' were observed, i.e. effects on the adult behaviour of the members of one sex in a litter produced by treatments administered in infancy to members of the other sex.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Impairment of defecation in young women with severe constipation.

Anorectal manometry, radiology, and tests of simulated defecation were carried out in 14 severely constipated young women and 29 age-matched controls. The resting anal sphincter pressures were reduced in the patients, but the squeeze pressures, rectoanal inhibitory reflex, and rectal pressures upon balloon distention were all normal. At rest, the anorectal angle was more obtuse in the constipated group, but there was no overall increase in perineal descent in constipated patients compared with controls. The presence of a balloon in the rectum and the onset of pain were perceived in constipated patients at volumes that were not significantly different from those in normal volunteers. Constipated patients, however, required higher rectal volumes to induce the desire to defecate and to stimulate regular rectal contractions. Constipated patients also found it more difficult to pass simulated stools from the rectum than the normal controls and, unlike most normal controls, failed to inhibit their external anal sphincter on attempted defecation. These findings suggest that young women with severe constipation have great difficulty initiating the coordinated set of events that constitute a normal defecation response.

Adolescent↗