Chronic idiopathic constipation with outlet obstruction.

Defecatory difficulties may be a source of great distress to patients. Normal defecation requires the coordination of abdominal and pelvic muscles. Throughout the last decade, many studies have demonstrated various and often mixed abnormalities of these mechanisms. Pathophysiological studies are able to determine, in a specific patient, the most probable causes of the obstructive symptom. Progress in the management of such disorders can only be achieved by understanding their pathophysiology.