Abstract
Clinical and anorectal manometric assessment of bowel control was done in 8 patients who had undergone surgical intervention for meningomyelocele 2 weeks to 6 months before. Of 6 patients with closed skin surface, 4 were with normal bowel control. On the other hand, 2 patients with open skin surface were with constipation or frequent bowel movement. Three out of the 4 patients with normal bowel control showed the normal patterns of anorectal resting pressure and anorectal reflex. Two patients with constipation showed the hypotonic pattern of anal resting pressure, and another 2 patients with frequent bowel movement characteristically had the exaggerated pattern of anorectal reflex. Frequent bowel movement could be controlled by rectal suppository or enma. Therefore, the achievement of satisfactory fecal continence in patients with meningomyelocele is accomplished by prevention of constipation. In addition, further careful follow-up study is necessary.
