Anorectal physiology

Abstract

Disorders of the pelvic floor are common and cause considerable morbidity. It is important to identify which patients need which intervention and as importantly which patients will not benefit from intervention. This in turn depends on accurate clinical and physiological assessment as well as a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to treatment. The latter is especially important since many of these patients have a global pelvic floor dysfunction which requires a holistic approach to the pelvic floor rather than dividing it into anterior, middle and posterior compartments. This chapter is divided into three sections: 1. Clinical assessment: history and examination 2. Standard physiological measurements 3. Advanced physiological measurements