Biofeedback therapy has been utilized successfully by doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) to treat patients with anorectal dyssynergia.

According to the chief of the hospital′s Institute of Liver Gastroenterology and Pancreatobiliary Sciences, “anorectal dyssynergia is a syndrome in which the pelvic floor muscles are unable to relax, preventing normal bowel movement around 20% to 30% of the adult population suffers from bothersome constipation due to the illness.”

The doctors of the SGRH hospital analyzed 180 patients who complained of chronic constipation. On evaluating the cause of constipation, doctors found anorectal dyssynergia was the reason behind 56 per cent of the patients. They used the biofeedback therapy which involved the insertion of a balloon in the rectum and filling it up to 50 per cent with water. The patients were then asked to push and monitored the act live on monitors using the software.

The biofeedback therapy yielded good results in 70 per cent of the patients with dyssynergia. Younger patients responded well with a success rate of 82 per cent. This helped the patients to relax their pelvic muscles.

Hence, a proper and timely evaluation of the type of constipation and the planned appropriate therapy would help in curbing prolonged constipation in many patients. (ET Healthworld, April 25, 2022)