Dyssynergic Defecation: A Comprehensive Review on Diagnosis and Management

Dyssynergic defecation (DD) involves a lack of coordination between abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during bowel movements, leading to difficulty in passing stool. Diagnosis includes a detailed medical history, physical examination, and tests like anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion test, or defecography to assess muscle function. Biofeedback therapy is highlighted as an effective and safe treatment option, helping patients relearn the correct muscle coordination for defecation.

• 1
  DD is a common cause of pelvic evacuation disorder, affecting approximately one-third of chronically constipated patients.
• 2
  The etiology of DD is not fully understood, but it is considered an acquired behavioral disorder rather than an organic or neurogenic disease.
• 3
  Accurate diagnosis requires a combination of clinical evaluation, physical examination, and physiological tests like anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion test.