Sensory and motor responses to rectal distension
| IBS+ (n=16) | IBS− (n=16) | Controls (n=16) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age, years | 43.4 (18.0) | 40.3 (15.6) | 32.1 (9.1) |
| No of female subjects (%) | 11 (69) | 11 (69) | 11 (69) |
| Wind | 30 (10–40) | 20 (20–40) | 20 (20–40) |
| Desire to defaecate | 40 (40–60)** | 50 (40–74)** | 80 (60–100) |
| Urgency | 80 (60–95)** | 80 (80–150) | 150 (100–200) |
| Discomfort | 125 (80–150)** | 150 (112–200) | 200 (150–250) |
| Repetitive rectal contractions | 30 (10–40)** | 40 (20–40)13-150 | 70 (35–113) |
| Rectal compliance, ml/cm H2O | 2.7 (1.8–3.7)** | 2.9 (1.9–5.0)13-150 | 5.0 (3.1–6.4) |
Results are presented as the median (interquartile range) threshold volumes of distension (ml of air) required to induce the reported response.
↵13-150 p<0.05, **p<0.01 versus normal controls. There were no significant differences between IBS+ and IBS− patients.