CORRELATION OF PUDENDAL NERVE-TERMINAL MOTOR LATENCY WITH THE RESULTSOF ANAL MANOMETRY

Denervation to the external anal sphincter is commonly found in disord ered defaecation. Aim: To determine whether a correlation exists betwe en pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) and anal manometry an d what influence an external sphincter defect (ESD) has on any correla tion. Method: Sixty seven consecutive patients (23 constipated, 44 inc ontinent) were analysed. All had results available for PNTML and anal manometry. Anal ultrasound performed in the later part of the study pe riod was available in 46 patients. Results: A significant negative cor relation was found between the mean PNTML and squeeze pressures (SP) f or incontinent patients (r=-0.32, P = 0.037). No significant correlati on was seen in constipated patients. A coexisting ESD was found in 57% of the 46 patients studied. In those without an ESD a significant neg ative correlation was found between mean PNTML and SP (r=-0.50; P = 0. 026). No correlation was found in patients with an ESD. Age did not si gnificantly affect the PNTML or SP results, but was associated with a reduced resting pressure (r=-0.34; P=0.005). Conclusions: The PNTML wa s significantly correlated with SP in patients with incontinence and i n the subgroup of patients without an ESD. In the assessment of disord ered defaecation PNTML is therefore recommended as an adjunct to anal ultrasound.