{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,15]],"date-time":"2026-06-15T19:37:11Z","timestamp":1781552231738,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gut"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1972,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Stimulation of the rectum by stretch results, in the normally innervated bowel, in the reflex relaxation of the internal anal sphincter. The absence of this rectosphincteric reflex in Hirschsprung's disease forms the basis of a simple and safe diagnostic test. Our experience over two years using a simplified air-filled pressure probe system is described, based on the examination of 267 infants and children with abnormal bowel function, of whom 114 were suffering from Hirschsprung's disease.<\/jats:p>\n               <jats:p>A review of the last 100 consecutive patients examined shows an overall diagnostic reliability of 85%. This was of the same order as that of a barium enema in these patients, and indeed of obtaining the correct diagnosis on the first rectal biopsy. It has proved easier to exclude the disease (90\u00b78%) than to confirm its presence (74\u00b73%), and has been found to be more reliable than the barium enema in the diagnosis of ultrashort segment disease. The commoner pitfalls in the interpretation of the trace are described.<\/jats:p>\n               <jats:p>We consider that this investigation justifies a place in the routine investigation of Hirschsprung's disease alongside the barium enema and rectal biopsy, and is of particular value as a simple screening test in outpatients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/gut.13.2.138","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,9,18]],"date-time":"2007-09-18T17:41:31Z","timestamp":1190137291000},"page":"138-146","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":98,"title":["A clinical evaluation of ano-rectal pressure studies in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Ian","family":"Aaronson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"H. H.","family":"Nixon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1972,2,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"432","article-title":"The roentgenographic diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease in infancy","volume":"93","author":"Berdon, W.E.; Baker, D.H.","year":"1965","unstructured":"Berdon, W. E., and Baker, D. H. (1965). The roentgenographic diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease in infancy. Amer. J. Roentgenol., 93, 432-446.","journal-title":"Amer. J. Roentgenol"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"384","volume-title":"Recent Advances in Clinical Pathology, Series 3","author":"Bodian, M.","year":"1960","unstructured":"Bodian, M. (1960). In Recent Advances in Clinical Pathology, Series 3, edited by S. C. Dyke, pp. 384-392. Churchill, London."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-1809.1963.tb01983.x","article-title":"A family study ofHirschsprung's disease","volume":"26","author":"Bodian, M.; Carter, C. 0","year":"1963","unstructured":"Bodian, M., and Carter, C. 0. (1963). A family study ofHirschsprung's disease. Ann. hum. Genet., 26, 261-271.","journal-title":"Ann. hum. Genet"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.39.204.153","article-title":"Megarectum: physiological observations","volume":"39","author":"Callaghan, R.P.; Nixon, H.H.","year":"1964","unstructured":"Callaghan, R. P., and Nixon, H. H. (1964). Megarectum: physiological observations. Arch. Dis. Childh., 39, 153-157.","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Childh"},{"key":"ref_5","article-title":"Physio-pathology of the internal anal sphincter","author":"Duhamel, B.","year":"1969","unstructured":"Duhamel, B. (1969). Physio-pathology of the internal anal sphincter."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.3.5556.7","article-title":"Neonatal Hirschsprung's disease","volume":"3","author":"Fraser, G.C.; Wilkinson, A.W.","year":"1967","unstructured":"Fraser, G. C., and Wilkinson, A. W. (1967). Neonatal Hirschsprung's disease. Brit. med. J., 3, 7-10.","journal-title":"Brit. med. J"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1098\/rspl.1877.0013","article-title":"The automatic action of the sphincter ani","volume":"26","author":"Gowers, W.R.","year":"1878","unstructured":"Gowers, W. R. (1878). The automatic action of the sphincter ani. Proc. roy. Soc. Lond., 26, 77-84.","journal-title":"Proc. roy. Soc. Lond"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"313","DOI":"10.1097\/00000658-195103000-00005","article-title":"The pathologic physiology of congenital megacolon","volume":"133","author":"Hiatt, R.B.","year":"1951","unstructured":"Hiatt, R. B. (1951). The pathologic physiology of congenital megacolon. Ann. Surg., 133, 313-320.","journal-title":"Ann. Surg"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.43.231.569","article-title":"Internal anal sphincter: observations on development and mechanism of inhibiting responses in premature infants and children with Hirschsprung's disease","volume":"43","author":"Howard, E.R.; Nixon, H.H.","year":"1968","unstructured":"Howard, E. R., and Nixon, H. H. (1968). Internal anal sphincter: observations on development and mechanism of inhibiting responses in premature infants and children with Hirschsprung's disease. Arch. Dis. Childh., 43, 569-578.","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Childh"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"572","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.36.4.572","article-title":"Aganglionic and functional megacolon in children-a diagnostic dilemma","volume":"36","author":"Kottmeier, P.K.; Clatworthy, Jr, H.W.","year":"1965","unstructured":"Kottmeier, P. K., and Clatworthy, H. W., Jr. (1965). Aganglionic and functional megacolon in children-a diagnostic dilemma. Pediatrics, 36, 572-582.","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"544","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3468(67)80011-3","article-title":"Anal canal pressures in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease","volume":"2","author":"Lawson, J. 0. N.; Nixon, H. H","year":"1967","unstructured":"Lawson, J. 0. N., and Nixon, H. H. (1967). Anal canal pressures in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. J. paediat. Surg., 2, 544-552.","journal-title":"J. paediat. Surg"},{"key":"ref_12","volume-title":"Recent Advances in Paediatric Surgery","author":"Lillie, J.G.","year":"1969","unstructured":"Lillie, J. G. (1969). In Recent Advances in Paediatric Surgery, 2nd ed., edited by A. W. Wilkinson. Churchill, London.","edition":"2nd ed"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.39.204.109","volume":"39","author":"Nixon, H.H.","year":"1964","unstructured":"Nixon, H. H. (1964). Hirschsprung's disease. Arch. Dis. Childh., 39, 109-115.","journal-title":"Hirschsprung's disease. Arch. Dis. Childh"},{"key":"ref_14","volume-title":"Modern Trends in Surgery, 2","author":"Nixon, H.H.","year":"1966","unstructured":"Nixon, H. H. (1966). In Modern Trends in Surgery, 2, edited by W. T."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3468(67)80010-1","article-title":"Differential sphincteric studies in the diagnosis of ano rectal disorders of childhood","volume":"2","author":"Schnaufer, L.; Talbert, J.L.; Haller, J.A.; Reid, N.C.R.W.; Tobon, F.; Schuster, M.M.","year":"1967","unstructured":"Schnaufer, L., Talbert, J. L., Haller, J. A., Reid, N. C. R. W., Tobon, F., and Schuster, M. M. (1967). Differential sphincteric studies in the diagnosis of ano rectal disorders of childhood. J. paediat. Surg., 2, 538-543.","journal-title":"J. paediat. Surg"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM194910132411501","article-title":"Hirschsprung's disease: a new concept of the etiology","volume":"241","author":"Swenson, O.; Rheinlander, H.F.; Diamond, I.","year":"1949","unstructured":"Swenson, O., Rheinlander, H. F., and Diamond, I. (1949). Hirschsprung's disease: a new concept of the etiology. New Engl. J. Med., 241, 551-556.","journal-title":"New Engl. J. Med"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM195510132531502","article-title":"Rectal biopsy as an aid in the diagnosis of Hirschprung's disease","volume":"253","author":"Swenson, O.; Fisher, J.H.; MacMahon, H.E.","year":"1955","unstructured":"Swenson, O., Fisher, J. H., and MacMahon, H. E. (1955). Rectal biopsy as an aid in the diagnosis of Hirschprung's disease. New Engl. J. Med., 253, 632-635.","journal-title":"New Engl. J. Med"},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"278","article-title":"Non-surgical test for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease","author":"Tobon, F.; Reid, N.C.R.W.; Talbert, J.L.; Schuster, M.M.","year":"1968","unstructured":"Tobon, F., Reid, N. C. R. W., Talbert, J. L., and Schuster, M. M. (1968). Non-surgical test for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. New Engl. J. Med., 278,188-194.","journal-title":"New Engl. J. Med"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"694","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.44.238.694","article-title":"Simplified method for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease","volume":"44","author":"Ustach, T.J.; Tobon, F.; Schuster, M.M.","year":"1969","unstructured":"Ustach, T. J., Tobon, F., and Schuster, M. M. (1969). Simplified method for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Arch. Dis. Cfiildh., 44, 694-697.","journal-title":"Arch. Dis. Cfiildh"}],"container-title":["Gut"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/gut.13.2.138","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,7]],"date-time":"2025-09-07T22:05:27Z","timestamp":1757282727000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/gut.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/gut.13.2.138"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[1972,2]]},"references-count":19,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1972,2,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1972,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/gut.13.2.138"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/gut.13.2.138","relation":{},"ISSN":["0017-5749","1468-3288"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0017-5749","type":"print"},{"value":"1468-3288","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[1972,2]]}}}