Gw. Cundiff et al., Proceedings of the American Urogynecologic Society Multidisciplinary Symposium on Defecatory Disorders, AM J OBST G, 182(1), 2000, pp. S1-S10
The Multidisciplinary Symposium on Defecatory Disorders was created to deli
neate the breadth of defecatory disorders and propose investigations to add
ress identified knowledge deficits. Seven experts in defecatory disorders a
nd 24 members of the American Urogynecologic Society were invited. The expe
rts provided brief summaries of the scope of defecatory disorders from the
perspectives of their specialties. The group then divided into 3 subgroups
that focused on pathophysiology, imaging. and evaluation and treatment. Def
ecatory disorders, including anal incontinence and constipation, are common
among women of all ages. Determination of their prevalence is complicated
by a lack of standardized definitions. Defecatory disorders carry lengthy d
ifferential diagnoses. Imaging studies and anorectal testing, although not
standardized, can aid in distinguishing different causes of dysfunction. Th
e lack of uniformity in diagnosis and evaluation compromises comparisons of
different treatments. Standardization of diagnoses and diagnostic modaliti
es is essential to the design of meaningful evaluations of treatments for d
efecatory disorders.