Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Idiopathic Faecal Incontinence: Mid-term Results from a Single Center

Abstract Objective: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is a recent and minimally invasive treatment for faecal incontinence (FI). The aim of this study is to evaluate the mid-term results in patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence (IFI). Methods: Fifty one patients (42 female and 9 male) were prospectively recruited. Patients were treated twice a week for 6 weeks as per study protocol. We have assessed the degree of fecal incontinence using the Cleveland Clinic faecal incontinence (CCF-FI) score at baseline, at 6 weeks, at 6 months and at 1 year. Also the anorectal manometric data (mean resting pressure (MRP), squeeze pressure (SP) and, rectal sensation) at baseline, at 6 weeks and at 6 months have been evaluated. Results: The median CCF-FI score was significantly decreased from an initial baseline value from 12 to 7 at 6 weeks, 3 at 6 months and, 3 at 1 year (respectively: 1st interquartile 4.5, 1, 0 vs 10; 3rd interquartile 9, 5, 5 vs 14.5, p = 0.0001). Anorectal manometry showed an improvement of the internal (resting pressure, MRP) and the external sphincters (squeeze pressure, SP) at 6 months compared to the baseline and 6 weeks by PTNS, while, RP and SP at 6 months was greater than at baseline and 6 weeks (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002 respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve could be an excellent procedure for the treatment of IFI. The stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve can improve the fecal continence (CCF-FI score) in the short term and this improvement is maintained after 1 year of follow-up without treatmen

A method of reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic malignancies in very young children: Two cases reports

Pancreatic tumors are very rare diseases in very young children. Most information about those diseases in children was published in cases reports. Due to the rare nature of pancreatic tumors in children, there remains the absence of diagnostic algorithms, clear radiographic and morphological assessments as well as evidence based best treatment options. Because of the young age of patients and the rare occurrence of pancreatic neoplasms, tumor detection remains poor. For malignancies affecting the head of the pancreas the only possibility for achieving clear surgical margins is performing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We describe two cases of diagnostic and treatment of pancreatic tumor of very young children what was done in our institute

The Daily Consumption of Cola Can Determine Hypocalcemia: A Case Report of Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism-Related Hypocalcemia Refractory to Supplemental Therapy with High Doses of Oral Calcium

The consumption of soft drinks is a crucial factor in determining persistent hypocalcemia. The aim of the study is to evaluate the biochemical mechanisms inducing hypocalcemia in a female patient with usual high consumption of cola drink and persistent hypocalcemia, who failed to respond to high doses of calcium and calcitriol supplementation. At baseline and after pentagastrin injection, gastric secretion (Gs) and duodenal secretion (Ds) samples were collected and calcium and total phosphorus (Ptot) concentrations were evaluated. At the same time, blood calcium, Ptot, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium concentrations, and vitamin D were sampled. After intake of cola (1 L) over 180 min, Gs and Ds and blood were collected and characterized in order to analyze the amount of calcium and Ptot or sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride ions, respectively. A strong pH decrease was observed after cola intake with an increase in phosphorus concentration. Consequently, a decrease in calcium concentration in Gs and Ds was observed. A decrease in calcium concentration was also observed in blood. In conclusion, we confirm that in patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, the intake of large amounts of cola containing high amounts of phosphoric acid reduces calcium absorption efficiency despite the high doses of calcium therapy

A functional study of the esophagus in patients with non-cardiac chest pain and dysphagia

Background/Aims: Nutcracker esophagus and non-specific motility disorders are the main causes of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), with gastroesophageal reflux in 60% of cases. Achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm are the most frequent anomalies described in patients with dysphagia. The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia, NCCP, or both. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 716 patients with NCCP and/or dysphagia tested between January 1994 and December 2010. 1023 functional studies were performed, 707 of which were esophageal manometries, 225 esophageal pH-meters, and 44 bilimetries. We divided the patients into three groups: group 1 was composed of patients affected with dysphagia, group 2 with NCCP and group 3 with NCCP and dysphagia. Results: Manometric anomalies were detected in 84.4% of cases (p<0.001). The most frequent esophageal motility alteration was achalasia (36%). The lower esophageal sphincter was normal in 45.9% of patients (p<0.001). In all 3 groups, 80.9%, 98.8%, and 93.8, respectively, of patients showed normal upper esophageal sphincter (p=0.005). Conclusion: Our data differs from those of other studies because they were collected from and analyzed by a single tertiary level referral center by a single examiner. This could have eliminated the variability found in different hands and different experiences. The high percentage of symptomatic patients with non-pathologic esophageal motility pattern suggests an unclear origin of the disease, with possible neuromuscular involvement. As a result, these patients may need more-detailed diagnostic studies

Pilonidal sinus disease. Preliminary case-control study on heat-related wound dehiscence

Background: Pilonidal disease is a morbid condition of the young population, that could impair quality of life with a high cost for the health care system. No consensus exists on optimal surgical treatment, even if several techniques have been proposed. In this preliminary case-control study we compared excision by knife and diathermy to investigate if wound dehiscence could be related to heat spreading during excision of the sinus. Materials and method: Between January 2017 and February 2018, 29 patients underwent to sinus excision.16 patients underwent sinus excision by diathermy (named "Hot" group, case-group) while 13 patients underwent excision by the knife as the control group (named "Cold" group). The temperature data were recorded for both groups. Were considered primary and secondary outcomes. Results: the cold group has worse outcomes in operative time and blood loss, but better results in post-operative pain at first day and first control, number of weekly and total dressings until healing, time for full wound recovery, days to return to work, patient feeling feedback and scar aspect. Wounds healed within 8-12 days were 84.6% in the Cold group and 18.8% in the Hot one. I° Dindo-Clavien complications were respectively 15.4% and 100.0% for the Cold and Hot group. No differences were recorded for II° Dindo-Clavien complications and in days of hospitalization. Conclusion: cold excision of the sinus pilonidalis has better results both in terms of precarious healing and quality of life, probably because the tissues are not subjected to diathermocoagulation damage and therefore the healing occurs more quickly. (United States National Institutes of Health, www.clinicaltrial.gov, number NCT03764657, www.researchregistry.com UIN 5003)

Esophageal motility changes after thyroidectomy; possible associations with postoperative voice and swallowing disorders: preliminary results.

Objective Swallowing and voice impairment are common after thyroidectomy. We evaluated short-term functional changes in esophageal motility in a series of patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy. Several studies have investigated these symptoms by means of interviews or questionnaires. Study Design Prospective study. Setting Academic research. Materials and Methods Thirty-six consenting patients were prospectively recruited. Eligibility criteria were thyroid volume ≤60 mL, benign disease, and age between 18 and 65 years. Exclusion criteria were previous neck surgery, severe thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and pre- or postoperative vocal cord palsy. Voice impairment score, swallowing impairment score, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, esophageal motility, upper esophageal pressure, and coordination were evaluated preoperatively and 30 to 45 days after surgery. Results Postoperative swallowing impairment (appearance or worsening of dysphagia) was found in 20% of patients and voice impairment in more than 30%. Both preoperative and postoperative esophageal motility were similar. All patients showed an average decrease of 25% in upper esophageal pressure, although the pressure was within normal range. Swallowing alterations were associated with upper esophageal incoordination (P &lt; .03), and proximal acid reflux was significantly associated with voice impairment (P &lt; .02). Conclusion After uncomplicated thyroidectomy, decreased upper esophageal pressure may explain both pharyngeal (dysphagia) and laryngeal (vocal impairment) exposure to acid. In the future, proton pump inhibitor therapy protocols should be evaluated

Can the balloon expulsion test be used to exclude the diagnosis of'"dyssynergic defecation"?

BACKGROUND: Fimctional constipation (FC) is a common disorder, particularly frequent m women. The aim of our study was to compare the results of balloon expulsion test with the manometry and defecography findings to exclude dyssynergic defecation (DD) in patients with chronic constipation. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2011, 127 patients with the diagnosis of functional constipation were recruited retrospectively. They were divided into three groups: 24 with DD, 54 with descending perineum syndrome (PDS), 49 without DD/PDS. Diagnosis of DD was established by manometnc and defecographic fmdmgs according to Rome EH criteria. RESULTS: The balloon expulsion test was abnormal m 11 out of 24 patients with DD, 19 out of 54 with PDS and 13 of 49 without both. Hie specificity and negative predictive value of the test for excluding dyssynergic defecation were 73% and 77%, respectively. There was no statistically significant association between the balloon expulsion test and findings in defecografy (P=0.31). There was a relevant association between mean resting pressure (MRP) and balloon expulsion test (P=0.002) on anorectal manometry. CONCLUSIONS: The balloon expulsion test is a simple and useful screening procedure to identify constipated patients who do not have DD. However, the balloon expulsion test cannot be used alone as a golden standard for the diagnosis of "dyssynergic defecation" and should be integrated with other anorectal tests mamly with anorectal manometry and secondly defecography. (Cite this article as: Inviati A, Scerrino G, Sckifano D, Di Giovanni S, Lo Greco V, Bonventre S. Can the balloon expulsion test be used to exclude the diagnosis of "dyssynergic defecation'? Gazz Med Ital - Arch Sci Med 2016;175:59-67)