Pilot study comparing tolerance of transperineal and endoanal ultrasound examination of anal sphincter.

OBJECTIVE

To compare diagnostic possibilities of endoanal (EAUS) and transperineal (TPUS) ultrasound during anal sphincter examination and patients preferences.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague.

METHODS

Patients involved had EAUS and TPUS of anal sphincter. First group were patients scheduled for control check after vaginal delivery complicated with anal sphincter injury (post OASI) and adequate suture. Second (control) group contained new patients coming for urogynecological examination with some symptoms of anal incontinence. Refusal were noted and after completing both ultrasounds patients marked on visual analog scale (VAS) the level of dyscomfort and answered few simple questions about their preference of exam in future.

RESULTS

This study contains twenty-nine patients (fifteen post OASI and fourteen in control group). Two patients (post OASI) refused EAUS and one patient from control group did not mark the level of dyscomfort. In post OASI group eleven patients (84.6%) considered EAUS as botherless or slighly bothering (VAS 3). The average dyscomfort for EAUS was 1.92 and for TPUS 1.08. Five patients marked EAUS more dyscomfortable as TPUS and this difference is significant (p < 0.05). In control group eleven patients (84.6%) marked EAUS as botherless or slightly bothering (VAS 3). There was no difference between post OASI and control group. We have not found by any exam residual anal sphincter defect in any patient post OASI. For this reason we could not decide about efectivity. In matter of future preference patients would prefer TPUS to EAUS in case of similar effectivity. However, in case of different effectivity patients would prefer the more effective.

CONCLUSION

Our patients prefer less dyscomfortable TPUS. The pilot study did not display higher effectivity of EAUS in diagnostics of residual anal sphincter defect.