Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Comparative Study
The digital rectal examination scoring system (DRESS).
Assessment of anal sphincter tone is a critical part of anorectal examination, yet no standardized, quantifiable method for describing anal sphincter tone on digital rectal examination exists. We developed a novel scoring system for anal sphincter tone using a scale of 0 to 5 for both resting pressure and squeeze pressure. The score ranges from 0 = no discernable pressure to 5 = extremely tight and 3 = normal. We hypothesized that the digital rectal examination scoring system (DRESS) score would correlate with anorectal manometry pressures. ⋯ The DRESS score correlated very well with manometry pressures for resting pressure and squeeze pressure. The DRESS system may be a useful description of anal sphincter resting pressure and squeeze pressure in the clinical setting. Further validation may support adoption of the DRESS system as part of the standard anorectal examination.