Comparative study between intra-anal sponge and needle electrode for electromyographic evaluation of constipated patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the intra-anal sponge electrode with the conventional needle electrode for electromyography of the pelvic floor in constipated patients.

Materials And Methods: Forty consecutive patients (27 females) with a mean age of 64.3 (range, 15-87) years who had chronic constipation were prospectively evaluated for electromyographic evidence of nonrelaxation or paradoxical contraction of the puborectalis and external anal sphincter during simulated defecation.

Proposed algorithm to aid the diagnosis of cerebellopontine angle tumors.

Hearing and/or balance disorders are symptoms that may be associated with tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Between March 1988 and May 1995, 22 patients had diagnosis or evaluation of CPA tumors at Cleveland Clinic Florida. The most common presenting signs or symptoms included unilateral low-frequency tinnitus, unsteadiness, and/or asymmetric hearing loss.

Variation in pudendal nerve terminal motor latency according to disease.

Purpose: The aims of this study were first to establish whether any difference among pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) values exists relative to diagnosis, second to determine whether left and right latencies are similar, and third to assess any correlation between age and neuropathy. Latency was elicited three times on each side, and an average latency was recorded as a result.

Materials And Methods: Between June 1989 and April 1995, 1,026 patients (775 females and 251 males) underwent PNTML study.

Pudendal neuropathy is not related to physiologic pelvic outlet obstruction.

Unlabelled: Chronic straining because of pelvic outlet obstruction is hypothesized to cause pudendal neuropathy (PN) by stretch injury.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine any association between PN and pelvic outlet obstruction.

Methods: One hundred forty-seven constipated patients were evaluated by cinedefecography and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment.

Electrodiagnostic evaluation of fecal incontinence.

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of electrodiagnostic testing (EDT) for the evaluation of fecal incontinence (FI). Over a 5-year period, 225 patients (174 females) with FI were prospectively studied with anal manometry, anal ultrasonography, anal electromyography (AEMG), and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) assessment. The mean age was 60 (range 12-94) years.