Internal anal sphincter thickness relationship to symptoms and obstetric findings

McHayle A1, Bhide A1, Morris E1, Tailor V1, Digesu A1, Fernando R1, Khullar V1

Research Type

Clinical

Abstract Category

Anorectal / Bowel Dysfunction

Abstract 91
E-Poster 1
Scientific Open Discussion Session 7
Wednesday 4th September 2019
13:00 - 13:05 (ePoster Station 3)
Exhibition Hall
Anal Incontinence Anatomy Female Imaging
1.Urogynaecology Unit, Imperial College London
Presenter
V

Visha Tailor

Links

Poster

Abstract

Hypothesis / aims of study
Injury to the external and internal anal sphincter (EAS and IAS) can occur during vaginal delivery. Involuntary loss of flatus or faeces occurs in 20% of women one year after childbirth (1). The risk of developing anal incontinence increases in women who suffer an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI). The IAS is vital in the maintenance of anal continence. 

The aim of this study was to investigate to relationship between IAS muscle thickness and function, with anal incontinence symptoms in postpartum women who have suffered a perineal tear. It was hypothesised that thinning to the anal sphincter would result in reduced continence function and hence increased symptoms of anal incontinence.
Study design, materials and methods
Women referred to Pelvic Floor Clinic postnatally following OASI were investigated. These women had suffered an OASI during their most recent childbirth. Women were excluded if they were pregnant at the time of appointment. Anal Manometry and Endoanal Ultrasound were performed by a trained healthcare professional. Symptoms were assessed with clinical history and completion of the validated Birmingham Bowel and Urinary Symptoms Questionnaire (BBUSQ-22). 

IAS measurements were carried out by an operator blinded from patient’s symptoms and degree of perineal tear. The patient’s average IAS thickness was correlated with anal maximal resting a squeeze pressures, and total score from questions 3-6 of the BBUSQ-22 assessing incontinence.
Results
Eighty-nine women were investigated. They were aged 17-44 years (mean =30.5, SD=5.4). 

Women were seen between 6-108 weeks postpartum (mean=23 weeks, SD=15).  Women seen later reported more symptoms (Spearmans corr = 0.313, p=0.03).  Of the 89 women, 67 reported symptoms of faecal incontinence (75%) and 20 reported only flatal incontinence (22%).

There was a significant positive correlation between resting and squeeze pressures (Spearman corr =0.619, p=<0.001).
Spearmans correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between IAS thickness, anal pressures and symptoms. There was no correlation between patients resting or squeeze pressures and IAS average thickness. Also, no correlation was found between resting pressure and symptoms of anal incontinence.  However as squeeze pressure increased, BBSUQ-22 scores decreased (corr=-0.274, p=0.009) and so did the incidence of flatal incontinence. There was no correlation between IAS thickness and patient symptoms. Parity and the time from birth to appointment had no effect of IAS thickness. There was an association between IAS injury on ultrasound and symptoms (Chi Sq 4.55, p=0.038) but surprisingly no association between symptoms and EAS injury (Chi Sq 9.53, p-0.994).

Patients with an OASI involving the IAS had a significantly lower resting pressure than those who did not (3a: mean=49.5, SD= 13.9 | 3b: mean=46.1, SD=15.0 | 3c: mean=41.3, SD=16.3 | 4: mean=38.3, SD = 5.2) (Mann-Whitney U injury mean rank=31.5, no injury mean rank=47.97, p=0.019).

Pearsons correlation showed older women had greater IAS thickness than the younger women (corr=0.396, p=<0.001). There was however no significant difference in the ages of women with each OASI grade or reported symptoms meaning age was not a confounder.
Ethnicity had no relationship to IAS thickness, reported symptoms, resting and squeeze pressure.
Interpretation of results
There was a relationship between the squeeze pressure and anal continence status. There was an association between IAS injury and faecal or flatal incontinence but not symptom severity. When comparing women with and without injury to the IAS, only 16 patients had an injury resulting in low power of only 42%. There does not appear to a relationship between IAS thickness and anal continence status.
Concluding message
From the data obtained in this study, it is possible to conclude that the muscle thickness of the IAS has no relationship to symptoms of anal incontinence in postpartum women with OASI. Injury to the IAS is linked with lower resting anal pressures in these patients, but this is not linked with severity of symptoms. Other tests than the ultrasound integrity of the anal sphincter complex are required to determine the cause of anal incontinence after childbirth.
Figure 1 Table 1. Showing the Sultan OASI classification and the number of women in the study with each grade of injury
References
  1. Woodley SJ, Boyle R, Cody JD, Mørkved S, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training for prevention and treatment of urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD007471. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub3
Disclosures
Funding NONE Clinical Trial Yes Public Registry No RCT No Subjects Human Ethics not Req'd Retrospective data was obtained therefore no ethical approval was needed. Helsinki Yes Informed Consent Yes
28/03/2024 04:10:48