3-D Endoanal Ultrasound: Normative Anatomy of the Anal Sphincter in Nulliparous Females
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to measure the muscles that make up your anal sphincter (muscles that control bowel movements) by using ultrasound. The most common way for women to injure these muscles is through childbirth. Some physicians think about 30% of women delivering their first baby develop some anal sphincter damage, which may or may not lead to symptoms such as anal urgency or incontinence (involuntary loss of gas or stool). The purpose of the study is to measure muscles in normal women who have never given birth or had an injury to their anal sphincter.
Description
Participants will be asked to complete a one page questionnaire. This questionnaire will address whether perineal trauma, sphincter lacerations, anal incontinence, and fecal urgency impact the subject on any level. Subjects will also be asked about their bowel habits and history of problems with bowel movements. Subjects will then be asked to undergo an ultrasound study of the anal sphincter at the time of enrollment. Completing the entire study will take no more than 15 minutes. This will be done at the doctor's office. Answering the questionnaire will take no more than 5 minutes.
The endoanal ultrasound is a probe with a diameter equivalent to the index finger. It is inserted in the rectum and measures the length and width of the sphincter muscles.
Study Design
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label
Conditions
Normal (no Known Injury) Anal Sphincter Female Anatomy.
Intervention
3-D Endoanal Ultrasound
Location
UCI Women's Healthcare
Orange
California
United States
92868
Status
Recruiting
Source
University of California, Irvine
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01123109
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Anus, Imperforate
A congenital abnormality characterized by the persistence of the anal membrane, resulting in a thin membrane covering the normal ANAL CANAL. Imperforation is not always complete and is treated by surgery in infancy. This defect is often associated with NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS; MENTAL RETARDATION; and DOWN SYNDROME.
Ultrasonography, Mammary
Use of ultrasound for imaging the breast. The most frequent application is the diagnosis of neoplasms of the female breast.
Intestinal Obstruction
Any impairment, arrest, or reversal of the normal flow of INTESTINAL CONTENTS toward the ANAL CANAL.
Anal Gland Neoplasms
Tumors or cancer of the anal gland.
Ultrasonography, Interventional
The use of ultrasound to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures such as needle ASPIRATION BIOPSY; DRAINAGE; etc. Its widest application is intravascular ultrasound imaging but it is useful also in urology and intra-abdominal conditions.
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PubMed Articles
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