Management of patients with rectocele, multiple pelvic floor dysfunctions and obstructed defecation syndrome

CONTEXT: Management of patients with obstructed defecation syndrome is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of clinical, clinical treatment followed by biofeedback, and surgical treatment in patients with obstructed defecation, rectocele and multiple dysfunctions evaluated with echodefecography. METHODS: The study included 103 females aged 26-84 years with obstructed defecation, grade-II/III rectocele and multiple dysfunctions on echodefecography. Patients were distributed into three treatment groups and constipation scores were assigned. Group I: 34 (33%) patients with significant improvement of symptoms through clinical management only. Group II: 14 (14%) with improvement through clinical treatment plus biofeedback. Group III: 55 (53%) referred to surgery due to treatment failure. RESULTS: Group I: 20 (59%) patients had grade-II rectocele, 14 (41%) grade-III. Obstructed defecation syndrome was associated with intussusception (41%), mucosal prolapse (41%), anismus (29%), enterocele (9%) or 2 dysfunctions (23%). The average constipation score decreased significantly from 11 to 5. Group II: 11 (79%) grade-II rectocele, 3 (21%) grade-III, associated with intussusception (7%), mucosal prolapse (43%), anismus (71%) or 2 dysfunctions (29%). There was significant decrease in constipation score from 13 to 6. Group III: 8 (15%) grade-II rectocele, 47 (85%) grade-III, associated with intussusception (42%), mucosal prolapse (40%) or 2 dysfunctions (32%). The constipation score remained unchanged despite clinical treatment and biofeedback. Twenty-three underwent surgery had a significantly decrease in constipation score from 12 to 4. The remaining 32 (31%) patients which 22 refused surgery, 6 had low anal pressure and 4 had slow transit. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 50% of patients with obstructed defecation, rectocele and multiple dysfunctions presented a satisfactory response to clinical treatment and/or biofeedback. Surgical repair was mainly required in patients with grade-III rectocele whose constipation scores remained high despite all efforts

Is dynamic two-dimensional anal ultrasonography useful in the assessment of anismus? A comparison with manometry

CONTEXT: Anismus is a prevalent functional cause of outlet delay. It is characterized by symptoms of obstructed defecation associated with paradoxical contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of two dimensional anal ultrasonography to identify anismus patients with paradoxical contraction or normal relaxation, comparing findings with manometric measurements. METHODS: Forty-nine women presenting with outlet delay and a mean validated Wexner constipation score of 13.5 were included in a prospective study. Following screening with anal manometry, the patients were assigned to one of two groups: G-I -with normal relaxation and G-II -patients with anismus. Dynamic anorectal ultrasonography was used to quantifier the movement of the puborectalis muscle and to measure changes in the angle between two converging lines drawn from the 3 o'clock and the 9 o'clock positions of the endoprobe circumference to the internal border of the puborectalis muscle. The angle decreases during straining in patients with normal relaxation, but increases in patients with anismus. The agreement between the two techniques was verified with the Kappa index. RESULTS: In manometry, during straining the anal canal pressure decreased by 41.3% in G-I and increased by 168.6% in G-II, indicating a diagnosis of anismus for the second group. In US, during straining, the angle produced by the movement of the puborectalis muscle decreased from 63 ± 1.31 to 58 ± 1.509 degrees (P = 0.0135) in 23 of the 30 patients in G-I, indicating normal relaxation, and increased from 66 ± 0.972 to 72 ± 0.897 degrees (P = 0.0001) in 16 of the 19 patients in G-II, indicating anismus. The index of agreement between manometry and two dimensional anal ultrasonography was moderate: 77% (23/30) for G-I and 84% (16/19) for G-II. CONCLUSION: Two-dimensional dynamic anal ultrasonography showed similar results previously suggested by anal manometry at identifying patients with normal relaxation or paradoxical contraction

DO CHANGES IN ANAL SPHINCTER ANATOMY CORRELATE WITH ANAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF VAGINAL DELIVERY?

Objectives To evaluate anal sphincter anatomy using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3-DAUS) in incontinent women with vaginal delivery, correlate anatomical findings with symptoms of fecal incontinence and determine the effect of vaginal delivery on anal canal anatomy and function. Methods Female with fecal incontinence and vaginal delivery were assessed with Wexner’s score, manometry, and 3DAUS. A control group comprising asymptomatic nulliparous was included. Anal pressure, the angle of the defect and length of the external anal sphincter (EAS), the anterior and posterior internal anal sphincter (IAS), the EAS + puborectal and the gap were measured and correlated with score. Results Of the 62, 49 had fecal incontinence and 13 were asymptomatic. Twenty five had EAS defects, 8 had combined EAS+IAS defects, 16 had intact sphincters and continence scores were similar. Subjects with sphincter defects had a shorter anterior EAS, IAS and longer gap than women without defects. Those with a vaginal delivery and intact sphincters had a shorter anterior EAS and longer gap than nulliparous. We found correlations between resting pressure and anterior EAS and IAS length in patients with defects. Conclusions Avaliar a anatomia do esfíncter anal usando ultra-sonografia tridimensional (3D-US) em mulheres incontinentes com parto vaginal, correlacionar os achados anatômicos com sintomas de incontinência fecal e, determinar o efeito do parto vaginal sobre a anatomia e função do canal anal

Anatomical and functional characteristics of the pelvic floor in nulliparous women submitted to three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasonography: case control study and evaluation of interobserver agreement Características anatômicas e funcionais do assoalho pélvico em nulíparas avaliadas por ultrassonografia tridimensional endovaginal: estudo caso-controle e avaliação da confiabilidade interobservador

PURPOSE: To determine anatomical and functional pelvic floor measurements performed with three-dimensional (3-D) endovaginal ultrasonography in asymptomatic nulliparous women without dysfunctions detected in previous dynamic 3-D anorectal ultrasonography (echo defecography) and to demonstrate the interobserver reliability of these measurements. METHODS: Asymptomatic nulliparous volunteers were submitted to echo defecography to identify dynamic dysfunctions, including anatomical (rectocele, intussusceptions, entero/sigmoidocele and perineal descent) and functional changes (non-relaxation or paradoxical contraction of the puborectalis muscle) in the posterior compartment and assessed with regard to the biometric index of levator hiatus, pubovisceral muscle thickness, urethral length, anorectal angle, anorectal junction position and bladder neck position with the 3-D endovaginal ultrasonography. All measurements were compared at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver, and perineal and bladder neck descent was determined. The level of interobserver agreement was evaluated for all measurements. RESULTS: A total of 34 volunteers were assessed by echo defecography and by 3-D endovaginal ultrasonography. Out of these, 20 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The 14 excluded subjects were found to have posterior dynamic dysfunctions. During the Valsalva maneuver, the hiatal area was significantly larger, the urethra was significantly shorter and the anorectal angle was greater. Measurements at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver differed significantly with regard to anorectal junction and bladder neck position. The mean values for normal perineal descent and bladder neck descent were 0.6 cm and 0.5 cm above the symphysis pubis, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.62-0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Functional biometric indexes, normal perineal descent and bladder neck descent values were determined for young asymptomatic nulliparous women with the 3-D endovaginal ultrasonography. The method was found to be reliable to measure pelvic floor structures at rest and during Valsalva, and might therefore be suitable for identifying dysfunctions in symptomatic patients.OBJETIVO: Avaliar as medidas anatômicas e funcionais do assoalho pélvico utilizando a ultrassonografia tridimensional transvaginal em nulíparas assintomáticas sem disfunções do compartimento posterior evidenciado pela ecodefecografia. Demonstrar o grau de concordância entre observadores do método utilizado para medir as estruturas anatômicas. MÉTODOS: Voluntárias nulíparas assintomáticas foram submetidas à ecodefecografia para identificar alterações dinâmicas no compartimento posterior, incluindo aquelas anatômicas (retocele, intussuscepção, entero/sigmoidocele e descenso perineal) e funcionais (ausência de relaxamento ou contração paradoxal do puborretal) e avaliadas com ultrassonografia tridimensional transvaginal para determinar índices biométricos do hiato dos elevadores do ânus, espessura do músculo pubovisceral, comprimento da uretra, ângulo anorretal, posição da junção anorretal e posição do colo vesical. Todas as medidas foram comparadas em repouso e durante Valsalva; e determinado descenso perineal e do colo da bexiga. A variabilidade interobservador foi avaliada utilizando o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 34 voluntárias com a ecodefecografia e a ultrassonografia tridimensional transvaginal. Dessas, 20 foram incluídas no estudo. As 14 excluídas apresentavam alterações dinâmicas no compartimento posterior. Durante a manobra de Valsalva, a área hiatal foi significativamente maior. A uretra foi significantemente mais curta e o ângulo anorretal foi maior. Medidas em repouso e durante a Valsalva diferiram significativamente em relação à posição da junção anorretal e do colo vesical. A média de valor do descenso perineal e do descenso da bexiga foram de 0,6 cm e 0,5 cm acima da sínfise púbica, respectivamente. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse variou entre 0,62-0,93. CONCLUSÕES: Foram determinados valores normais para os índices biométricos funcionais, descida perineal e colo vesical em nulíparas assintomáticas utilizando-se a ultrassonografia transvaginal tridimensional. É um método seguro para mensurar a anatomia do assoalho pélvico durante o repouso e a manobra de Valsalva, e pode ser adequado para a identificação de disfunções em pacientes sintomáticos

Is prevalence of colorectal polyps higher in patients with family history of colorectal cancer?

ABSTRACTObjectives:To assess the prevalence of polyps in patients with a family history of colorectal cancer, in comparison to asymptomatic individuals with indication for screening.Methods:A prospective study in a group of patients who underwent colonoscopy between 2012 and 2014. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I: no family history of colorectal cancer, and Group II: with a family history in first-degree relatives. Demographic characteristics, findings on colonoscopy, presence, location and histological type of polyps were evaluated, comparing the two groups.Results:214 patients were evaluated: 162 in Group I and 52 in Group II. The distribution of patients with polyps was similar in relation to gender: polyps were evidenced in Group I in 33 (20%) female patients vs. 10 (6%) male patients (p= 1.00); in Group II, the presence of polyps was evidenced in 9 (17%) female patients vs. 2 (4%) male patients (p= 1.00). Polypoid lesions were found in 54 patients (25%), with 43 (26%) in Group I and 11 (21%) in Group II. The prevalence of adenomas was similar in both groups (Group I = 18/37% vs. Group II = 10/50%) (p= 0.83).Conclusion:In this preliminary study, no correlation was found between prevalence of polyps and a family history of colorectal cancer

Anatomical characteristics of anal fistula evaluated by three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography: is there a correlation with Goodsall's theory?

Purpose: We aimed to correlate the course of the anal fistula tract (T), location of the external opening (EO) and internal opening (IO) in anterior (A) and posterior (P) circumference using 3D-US according to Goodsall's rule. Methods: 151 patients with primary ptoglandular Transsphincteric fistulas were examined with 3D-US and compared with surgical finding. The type of the T (straight or curved), EO and IO were identified and divided into 3 Groups: GI: EO and IO are located in a position; GII: EO and IO are located in P position and GIII: OE and OI are located in the opposite position. The findings were correlated with Goodsall's rule. Results: 74/151(49%) were included in GI, of them, 41 (55%) were male (33/44% had straight tract and 8/11% curved) and 33 (45%) female (15/20%-straight and 18/25%-curved). GII included 68 (45%), of them, 50 (74%) were male (39/57%-straight and 11/15%-curved) and 18 (26%) female (14/20%-straight and 04/8%-curved). GIII = 9 (6%) and all of them had curved tract. The overall concordance between 3D-US and surgical finding was 98% for tract and 96% for IO. Conclusion: The 3D-US findings correlate with the Goodsall's rule in transsphincteric fistulas located in the anterior circumference straight type, in male, while in females the distribution of curved and straight paths is similar. In the posterior circumference no correlation was observed in both the sexes