Perianal injectable bulking agents as treatment for faecal incontinence in adults

Loss of bowel control, also known as faecal incontinence, can be a devastating problem. It affects men and women of all ages in up to 15% of the adult population. Faecal incontinence can radically affect everyday life as many people become almost house bound, being unable to undertake simple tasks, such as shopping, because they are worried about faecal leakage. Faecal incontinence may be due to a problem with the two muscles around the anus (back passage). These muscles can be damaged or become weak due to injury during child birth or operations to treat anal conditions such as haemorrhoids (piles) and fistulas (abnormal channels between the skin and back passage). The anal muscles then become unable to hold back the stools until the person reaches the toilet. The inner ring or internal anal sphincter muscle normally keeps the anus closed at all times except when opening the bowel, preventing passive leakage of stool. A treatment has been developed to treat faecal incontinence, which involves injecting a substance into or near this muscle to make it bulkier so that the anus closes better. It has been advocated as a simple and safe option. In this review, one large trial demonstrated that injection of dextranomer stabilised in hyaluronic acid improves the symptoms of incontinence in the short term in little over half of those who received the treatment. The other four trials reviewed were of limited value because they were generally poor in methodological quality and small in size. There are no reported long term results for this treatment

Functional results after treatment for rectal cancer

Introduction: With improving survival of rectal cancer, functional outcome has become in- creasingly important. Following sphincter-preserving resection many patients suffer from severe bowel dysfunction with an impact on quality of life (QoL) – referred to as low ante- rior resection syndrome (LARS). Study objective: To provide an overview of the current knowledge of LARS regarding symp- tomatology, occurrence, risk factors, pathophysiology, evaluation instruments and treat- ment options. Results: LARS is characterized by urgency, frequent bowel movements, emptying difficulties and incontinence, and occurs in up to 50-75% of patients on a long-term basis. Known risk factors are low anastomosis, use of radiotherapy, direct nerve injury and straight anasto- mosis. The pathophysiology seems to be multifactorial, with elements of anatomical, sen- sory and motility dysfunction. Use of validated instruments for evaluation of LARS is es- sential. Currently, there is a lack of evidence for treatment of LARS. Yet, transanal irrigation and sacral nerve stimulation are promising. Conclusion: LARS is a common problem following sphincter-preserving resection. All pa- tients should be informed about the risk of LARS before surgery, and routinely be screened for LARS postoperatively. Patients with severe LARS should be offered treatment in order to improve QoL. Future focus should be on the possibilities of non-resectional treatment in order to prevent LARS. Resumo: Introdução: Com o aumento da sobrevida após câncer retal, o resultado funcional se tornou cada vez mais importante. Após ressecção com preservação do esfíncter, muitos pacientes sofrem de disfunção intestinal com um impacto sobre a qualidade de vida (QdV) – denomi- nada síndrome da ressecção anterior baixa (LARS). Objetivo do estudo: Fornecer uma visão geral do conhecimento atual da LARS com relação à sintomatologia, à ocorrência, aos fatores de risco, à fisiopatologia, aos instrumentos de avaliação e às opções de tratamento. Resultados: A LARS é caracterizada por movimentos intestinais repentinos e frequentes, di- ficuldades de esvaziamento e incontinência e ocorre em até 50-75% dos pacientes em longo prazo. Os fatores de risco conhecidos são anastomose baixa, radioterapia, lesão direta do nervo e anastomose direta. A fisiopatologia parece multifatorial, com elementos de disfun- ção anatômica, sensorial e da motilidade. O uso de instrumentos validados para avaliação da LARS é essencial. Atualmente, não há comprovações de tratamento da LARS. Ainda hoje, a irrigação transanal e a estimulação do nervo sacral são comprometidas. Conclusão: A LARS é um problema comum após ressecção com preservação do esfíncter. Todos os pacientes devem ser informados sobre o risco de LARS antes da cirurgia, e o ras- treamento da LARS deve ser rotineiro após a cirurgia. Pacientes com LARS severa devem receber tratamento para melhorar a QdV. O foco futuro deve ser nas possibilidades de tra- tamento sem ressecção a fim de evitar a LARS. Keywords: Rectal cancer LARS Bowel dysfunction Functional outcome Quality of life, Palavras-chave: Câncer retal LARS Disfunção intestinal Resultado funcional Qualidade de vid

Changes in fatigue and physical function following laparoscopic colonic surgery

The aim of the study was to describe changes in postoperative fatigue, quality of life, physical performance, and body composition in patients undergoing laparoscopic colonic cancer surgery. Material and methods. In a follow-up study from 2009-2011 at two regional hospitals in Denmark we examined 62 patients having a right hemicolectomy ora sigmoid resection performed. The main outcome measures were fatigue level subjectively scored from 1 (“fit”) to 10 (“fatigued”) on a modified visual analogue scale and by objective measurements of hand grip and knee extension strength, work capacity, weight, and lean body mass. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire and pain using an ordinal scale. Patients were examined preoperatively, 1-2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Results. Eight patients (13%) were converted to open surgery and the median bleeding (95% confidence interval of the median) was 75 (50-100) ml. One to two weeks after surgery the fatigue level and pain when moving had increased significantly (p=0.0011 and p=0.0002 respectively) and the SF-36 physical component quality of life score decreased (p<0.0001) when compared to preoperatively. However, at 4 weeks postoperatively fatigue level, pain, and quality of life scores were at the preoperative level. There were no significant changes from preoperatively to postoperatively in any of the measures of physical performance, whereas there was a slight reduction in weight and lean body mass after the operation. Conclusions. Laparoscopic colonic cancer surgery was associated with a short lasting increased fatigue and pain and reduced quality of life, but no significant reduction in physical performance after surgery

Rectal Mechano-sensory Function in Patients with Carcinoid Diarrhea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with neuroendocrine tumors, excessive production of serotonin and other amines may cause the carcinoid syndrome, which is mainly characterized by diarrhea and flushing. Little is known about the pathophysiology of carcinoid diarrhea. In several other groups of patients, diarrhea may be associated with rectal hypersensitivity and increased rectal tone. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare rectal sensitivity and compliance in patients with carcinoid diarrhea and in healthy subjects. METHODS: Twelve patients (6 males, aged 54–78 years, median 65 years), with carcinoid diarrhea and 19 healthy subjects (7 males, aged 50–78 years, median 61 years) were included. Rectal mechanical and heat stimulation was used for assessment of rectal mechano-sensory properties. RESULTS: Overall, 5.3% higher temperatures were needed to elicit sensory responses in patients with carcinoid diarrhea than in healthy subjects (P = 0.015). Posthoc analyses revealed that the sensory threshold to heat was 48.1 ± 3.1°C in patients vs 44.7 ± 4.7°C in healthy subjects (P = 0.041). In contrast, patients and healthy subjects showed no overall differences in rectal sensory response to mechanical distension (P = 0.731) or rectal compliance (P = 0.990). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with carcinoid diarrhea have higher sensory thresholds to heat stimulation in comparison to healthy subjects, but normal rectal sensation to mechanical distension and normal compliance. Therefore, treatment of carcinoid diarrhea should aim at prolonging gastrointestinal transit and decreasing secretion, rather than modifying rectal mechano-sensory function

Plasma Protein Haptoglobin Modulates Renal Iron Loading

Haptoglobin is the plasma protein with the highest binding affinity for hemoglobin. The strength of hemoglobin binding and the existence of a specific receptor for the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex in the monocyte/macrophage system clearly suggest that haptoglobin may have a crucial role in heme-iron recovery. We used haptoglobin-null mice to evaluate the impact of haptoglobin gene inactivation on iron metabolism. Haptoglobin deficiency led to increased deposition of hemoglobin in proximal tubules of the kidney instead of the liver and the spleen as occurred in wild-type mice. This difference in organ distribution of hemoglobin in haptoglobin-deficient mice resulted in abnormal iron deposits in proximal tubules during aging. Moreover, iron also accumulated in proximal tubules after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury or after an acute plasma heme-protein overload caused by muscle injury, without affecting morphological and functional parameters of renal damage. These data demonstrate that haptoglobin crucially prevents glomerular filtration of hemoglobin and, consequently, renal iron loading during aging and following acute plasma heme-protein overload