Gastroenterology
Volume 138, Issue 4 , Pages 1321-1329 , April 2010

Biofeedback Is Superior to Electrogalvanic Stimulation and Massage for Treatment of Levator Ani Syndrome

  • Giuseppe Chiarioni

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology of the University of Verona at Verona, Italy
    • Valeggio sul Mincio-Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera and University of Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio Hospital and Policlinico GB Rossi, Verona, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests Address requests for reprints to: Giuseppe Chiarioni, MD, Divisione di Gastroenterologia dell'Università di Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera e Università di Verona, Centro Ospedaliero Clinicizzato, 37067 Valeggio sul Mincio (VR), Italy. fax: (39) 0457 950 188
    • ,
  • Adriana Nardo

      Affiliations

    • Division of Surgery, Casa di Cura San Clemente Hospital, Mantova, Italy
    • ,
  • Italo Vantini

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology of the University of Verona at Verona, Italy
    • Valeggio sul Mincio-Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera and University of Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio Hospital and Policlinico GB Rossi, Verona, Italy
    • ,
  • Antonella Romito

      Affiliations

    • Valeggio sul Mincio-Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera and University of Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio Hospital and Policlinico GB Rossi, Verona, Italy
    • ,
  • William E. Whitehead

      Affiliations

    • Center for Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Received 3 September 2009 ,Accepted 9 December 2009.

References 

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  2. Wald A, Bharucha AE, Enck P, et al. Functional anorectal disorders. In:  Drossman DA,  Corazziari E,  Delvaux M, et al. editor. Rome III: The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. 3rd ed.. McLean, Virginia: Degnon Associates; 2006;p. 639–685
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  8. Heah SM, Ho YH, Tan M, et al. Biofeedback is effective treatment for levator ani syndrome. Dis Colon Rectum. 1997;40:187–189
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  12. Park DH, Yoon SG, Kim KU, et al. Comparison study between electrogalvanic stimulation and local injection therapy in levator ani syndrome. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2005;20:272–276
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  15. Chiarioni G, Salandini L, Whitehead WE. Biofeedback benefits only patients with outlet dysfunction, not patients with isolated slow transit constipation. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:86–97
  16. Chiarioni G, Whitehead WE, Pezza V, et al. Biofeedback is superior to laxatives for normal transit constipation due to pelvic floor dyssynergia. Gastroenterology. 2006;130:657–664
  17. Chiarioni G, Chistolini F, Menegotti M, et al. One-year follow-up study on the effects of electrogalvanic stimulation in chronic idiopathic constipation with pelvic floor dyssynergia. Dis Colon Rectum. 2004;47:346–353
  18. Scarlett YV. Anorectal manometry and biofeedback. In:  Drossman DA,  Shaheen NJ,  Grimm IS editor. Handbook of gastroenterologic procedures. 4th ed.. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005;p. 341–348
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 View this article's video abstract at www.gastrojournal.org.

 Conflicts of interest The authors disclose no conflicts.

 Funding Supported by grant R24 DK067674 from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.

PII: S0016-5085(09)02237-9

doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.12.040

Gastroenterology
Volume 138, Issue 4 , Pages 1321-1329 , April 2010

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