Digital rectal stimulation associated with psychiatric disorders as a rare reason of solitary rectal ulcer in children and adolescents: a case series study

Abstract

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is one of the rare causes of rectal bleeding in children and adolescents. Traumatic and ischemic mucosal injury is the main cause of its etiopathogenesis. A rare but important cause of traumatic mucosal injury is digital rectal stimulation. It is known that digital rectal stimulation is used in order to increase intestinal motility and to reduce the feeling of inadequate defecation. In this study, it was emphasized that digital rectal stimulation can be seen as a consequence of psychiatric disorders, and with proper psychiatric interventions, digital stimulation behavior and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome can be improved. Moreover, the importance of a cooperation between gastroenterologist and psychiatrist in such cases has been stressed.