Gil Vernet J M, Casasa J M, Lloret J, Marhuenda C, Broto J, Boix Ochoa J
Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona.
Cir Pediatr. 1992 Jul;5(3):135-40.
To show the absence of inhibitory reflex of the anus (R.I.A.) by ano-rectal manometry is an important sign in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Between 1989 and 1991, a series of 199 patients was studied. The patients were divided into two groups: 0-1 month and 1 month to 50 years. Both groups were subdivided into cases with or without clinical and radiological suspicion of aganglionism. In this series, R.I.A. was absent in 88 patients and present in 111. Histologic study and follow-up confirmed the existence of aganglionism in 86 patients, hyperganglionism in 1, anal stenosis in 8, cystic fibrosis in 4 and 1 coeliac disease; the rest were megarecta to a greater or lesser degree. There was 1 false negative, signifying a percentage of error of 0.5%.
