Could caudal bloc become a solution for anismus?

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate caudal bloc treatment for animus patients.Method: 37 consecutive patients diagnosed as anismus between January 2014 and January 2019 were included. Demographic data, symptomatic reversal rate at the 6th month and 1st year, and quality of life questionnaire results were evaluated retrospectively.Results: Mean age was 41.9 years. Of 37 patients, 24.3% (n = 9) were male and 75.7% (n = 28) were female. All of the patients complained of prolonged constipation, straining during defecation and incomplete emptying of rectum during defecation. Ten patients defecated with enema, while 8 could only perform hand assisted defecation. Median follow up period was 873 days. After caudal bloc, 19 (51.3%) patients at the 6th month and 12 (32.4%) patients at the 1st year had symptomatic reversal. Seven patients consuming laxatives and 4 using enema quit. Three patients were able to defecate without hand assistance. A health quality questionnaire revealed no difference except pain between patients who benefited or not from the procedure.Conclusion: Almost half of the patients benefited from caudal block in the short term. Nevertheless, the effect of the procedure decreases over time. Caudal block may become a temporary solution for anismus. Also, quality of life seems not to be affected, except pain.