Carlos Frederico Sparapan Marques

Transient Ischemic Rectitis as a Potential Complication after Prostatic Artery Embolization: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Complications are primarily related to non-target embolization. We report a case of ischemic rectitis in a 76-year-old man with significant lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, probably related to nontarget embolization. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 85.5-g prostate and urodynamic studies confirmed Inferior vesical obstruction. PAE was performed bilaterally. During the first 3 days of follow-up, a small amount of blood mixed in the stool was observed. Colonoscopy identified rectal ulcers at day 4, which had then disappeared by day 16 post PAE without treatment. PAE is a safe, effective procedure with a low complication rate, but interventionalists should be aware of the risk of rectal nontarget embolization.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: indications, results and controversies

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) was introduced in 1983 as a minimally invasive technique allowing the resection of adenomas and early rectal carcinomas unsuitable for local or colonoscopic excision which would otherwise require major surgery. After 25 years, there is still much debate about the procedure. This article presents the TEM technique, indications, results and complications, focusing on its role in rectal cancer. The controversial points addressed include long-term results, TEM in high-risk T1 lesions, TEM associated with combined modality therapy (CMT) for invasive rectal cancer and salvage therapy after TEM. The future perspectives for TEM are promising and its association with CMT will probably expand the select group of patients who will benefit from the procedure.

Screening anal dysplasia in HIV-infected patients: is there an agreement between anal pap smear and high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the agreement between anal Pap smear and high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy in diagnosing anal dysplasia in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analysis of HIV-infected patients receiving anal dysplasia screening as part of routine care. Agreement between measures was estimated by weighted kappa statistics, using a three-tiered cytologic and histologic grading system (normal, low-grade dysplasia, and high-grade dysplasia). Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated using a two-tiered cytologic and histologic grading system (“without dysplasia” and “with dysplasia of any grade”). Estimates were also calculated for the detection of high-grade dysplasia. RESULTS: During a one-year period, 222 patients underwent 330 anal Pap smears followed by high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsies. There were 311 satisfactory Pap smears with concurrent biopsies. Considering histology the standard, the frequency of anal dysplasia was 46%. Kappa agreement between anal Pap smear and biopsy was 0.20. For detection of anal dysplasia of any grade, anal Pap smear showed sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 60%, positive predictive value of 56%, and negative predictive value of 64%. For high-grade dysplasia, anal Pap smear showed sensitivity of 16% and specificity of 97%. CONCLUSION: Anal Pap smears alone were not sensitive enough to rule out anal dysplasia. We recommend that high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy be incorporated as a complementary screening test for anal dysplasia in high-risk patients. Following baseline high-resolution anoscopy, these individuals could be followed with serial anal cytology to dictate the need for future high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsies.

Early results of the treatment of internal hemorrhoid disease by infrared coagulation and elastic banding: a prospective randomized cross-over trial

AbstractBackgroundRubber band ligation (RBL) is probably the most commonly performed nonsurgical therapy for hemorrhoidal disease. Infrared coagulation (IRC) is one of the most recent advances based on the use of “heat”. Recent studies have demonstrated similar efficacy for both modalities. This prospective randomized crossover trial compared IRC and RBL for pain, complications, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction and preference in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids (IH).MethodsPatients were randomized to receive either RBL (Group A) or IRC (Group B) for treatment of the first hemorrhoid; in a second procedure two weeks later, patients underwent the other procedure on the second hemorrhoid, thereby serving as their own control. The procedure preferred by the patient was employed two weeks later for the third hemorrhoid. Post-treatment pain was evaluated on a visual analog scale and on the basis of the percentage of patients requiring analgesics. Bleeding and early outcome of treatment were also recorded, together with the patient’s satisfaction.ResultsA total of 94 patients were included in this study (47 patients in each group). At 30 minutes and 6 hours after treatment, pain scores were significantly higher in patients treated with RBL than in those treated with IRC (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in pain scores between the two procedures immediately and 24 hours after the procedures (p<0.05). After 72 hours and one week, the pain scores for RBL and IRC were similar. The percentage of patients using analgesics was significantly higher in RBL group than in IRC group at 6 hours (29.6% vs. 19.2%, respectively; p<0.05) and 24 hours (22.5% vs. 13.5%, respectively; p<0.05) after treatment. However, significant differences were not noted at 72 hours (12.7% vs. 6.4%; p<0.05) and one week (5.6% vs. 7.1%; p>0.05) after the procedures. There were significantly higher incidences of bleeding immediately, 6 hours, and 24 hours after RBL compared to IRC (immediate: 32.4% vs. 4.3%; 6 hours: 13.4% vs. 3.6%, 24 hours: 26.8% vs. 10.2%, respectively; p<0.01). However, there were no significant differences noted regarding the incidence of bleeding between the two groups at 72 hours. Complications were more likely after RBL than IRC, however this difference was not significant (p>0.05). Overall, 91 patients (96.8%) were successfully treated and 93 patients (99%) were very satisfied with the treatment. In the third treatment session, 50% of patients selected RBL and 50% chose IRC.ConclusionsBoth RBL and IRC were well-accepted and highly efficacious methods for the treatment of IH; in addition, both procedures were associated with relatively minor complications. However, RBL was associated with more pain than IRC in the 24-hour postoperative period.

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy: Initial experience of a Latin American group

The purpose of the present study was to determine the value of circular emorrhoidectomy (procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids [PPH]) on the basis of data collected prospectively during the initial experience of a group of Latin American surgeons. Between 2000 and 2001, PPH was performed using a circular stapler in 177 patients who had third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoidal disease. The average age of the patients was 47.7 years (range 26 to 85 years). Anal bleeding was the most common preoperative complaint (93.2%) followed by anal pain (60.2 %), anal itching (43%), and constipation (41 %). Hemorrhoids were classified as third degree in 132 patients (74%) and fourth degree in 45 patients (25.4%). Skin tags were detected in 86 patients (48.8%) and rectocele in 14 patients (7.9%). Data collected included patient demographics, type of anesthesia, and specific details of the surgery such as duration of the operation, distance from the staple line to the dentate line, need for complementary hemostasis, and any unexpected occurrences. Postoperative data collected included the degree of pain, which was evaluated on the basis of the type and dosage of analgesics required, laxative consumption, and the presence of bleeding, fever, urinary retention, or hematomas. Each patient completed a written questionnaire addressing these events. Patients returned for follow-up visits on days 7, 15, 30, and 90. Responses to pain, bleeding, fever, anal continence, recurrence of hemorrhoids, and level of satisfaction were compiled. The duration of the procedure ranged from 6 minutes to 2 hours (average 2 3 minutes), and most operations lasted no more than 20 minutes, with the exception of one that lasted 2 hours because of intraoperative bleeding. Intraoperative problems were minor. An additional one or a few sutures were required in 58.7% of patients to achieve perfect hemostasis. In 128 patients (72.3%) the hospital stay was less than 24 hours. Same-day surgery was chosen for 37 patients (20.9%). Pain was controlled with analgesia only using one to six doses of oral dipirona in 126 patients. Five patients were readmitted to the hospital: four for control of bleeding and one for conventional hemorrhoidectomy due to an acute episode of external hemorrhoidal thrombosis. At day 30, patients rated the efficacy of the procedure in alleviating preoperative symptoms as follows: 77.5% excellent; 16% good; 5.3% average, and 1.2% poor. At 3 months postoperatively no patient had had a recurrence of hemorrhoidal prolapse, and there were no instances of stenosis or anal incontinence. Surgeons also rated the efficacy of the procedure as excellent in 75%, good in 19.8%, average in 4.7%, and poor in 0.6%. With proper selection of patients and adequate stapling technique, stapled hemorrhoidectomy may be considered safe; it is easily learned, has a satisfactory degree of pain, and is well accepted by both patients and surgeons.

Early Rectal Cancer: Local Excision or Radical Surgery?

BACKGROUND Sphincter preservation, disease control, and long-term survival are the main goals in the treatment of rectal cancer. Although transanal local excision is attractive because it is a sphincter sparing procedure, some contradictory data exist in the literature about its ability to locally control disease and provide overall survival comparable with radical procedures, even for patients with early stage tumor. PURPOSE To compare transanal local excision and radical surgery treatment results based on the appropriate data in literature. METHODS We reviewed the literature to identify the current recurrence and survival rates of both techniques as well as the salvage surgery success. A PubMed search of the last 10 years was performed, and a total of 10 nonrandomized studies were identified; only 1 study was prospective, 5 were comparative, and 5 were case reports. RESULTS Five-year overall survival rate varied from 69% to 83% in the local excision group versus 82% to 90% for the radical excision group. Local recurrence rates ranged from 9% to 20% for local excision and from 2% to 9% for radical surgery. Systemic recurrence rates ranged from 6% to 21% for local excision and from 2% to 9% for radical surgery. CONCLUSION Radical surgery is the more definitive cancer treatment; however, it does not eliminate local excision as a reasonable choice for many patients, who will have lesser procedure-related morbidity and will accept an increased risk of tumor recurrence, a prolonged period of postoperative cancer surveillance, and a decreased success rate by salvage surgery.

Colonoscopia como método diagnóstico e terapêutico das moléstias do instestino grosso: análise de 2.567 exames

BACKGROUND Since the sixties, when the optic fibers were reported, colonoscopy had emerged as the first line imaging investigation of the colon. AIM To review the results of diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy at the Discipline of Coloproctology of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, respecting the characteristics of an institution of medical education. METHODS Retrospective analysis of basis related to 2,567 fibro colonoscopies between 1984 and 2002. The procedure was performed in hospitalized and in outpatients. The most common indications for colonoscopy were investigation of rectal bleeding and anemia (22.4%), change of bowel habit (14.76%), inflammatory bowel disease (8.65%) and carcinoma (7.25%). Bowel preparation with manitol was used by most of the patients. Sedation, when not contra-indicated, was administered. The most common combination was meperidine and benzodiazepine. All the exams were monitored with pulse oximeter. A normal colonoscopy to the point of maximum insertion was reported in 42.42% of procedures. The most common diagnosis was polyps (15.47%), followed by diverticular disease (12.86%). Inflammatory disease was recorded in 11.88% and carcinoma in 10.21%. Polypectomy was undertaken in 397 patients (2.21 polypectomy per patient with polyps). Colonoscopy was considered incomplete (when the colonoscope did not pass to the cecum or terminal ileum) in 181 (7.05%) cases. Perforation was reported in one patient who had a subestenosing retossigmoid tumor. In 0.42%, reasons for failing to complete the procedure included complication related to sedation, with no further prejudice for the patients. CONCLUSIONS Colonoscopic examination of the entire colon remains the standard for visualization, biopsy and treatment of colonic affections. The incidence of complication of endoscopy of the large bowel is quite low, even in a school hospital.

Surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease with CO2 laser and Milligan–Morgan cold scalpel technique

Objective  To prospectively compare immediate postoperative results of the surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease (HD) by Milligan–Morgan technique using either the CO2 laser or cold scalpel.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM): a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of selected rectal neoplasms

A microcirurgia endoscopica transanal (TEM) e procedimento alternativo minimamente invasivo ao tratamento cirurgico radical para excisao de tumores benignos e malignos do reto. Ela oferece possibilidade operatoria aos procedimentos cirurgicos convencionais (resseccao anterior baixa ou amputacoes abdominoperineais), as quais acarretam alta morbimortalidade. Baseada na revisao da literatura e na experiencia propria dos autores, esta revisao tem por objetivo apresentar o metodo e as indicacoes para a TEM.

Evaluation of cutaneous sensibility of the internal pudendal artery perforator (IPAP) flap after perineal reconstructions

BACKGROUND In oncological perineal reconstructions, the internal pudendal artery perforator (IPAP) flap is our flap of choice, supplied by perforator vessels from the internal pudendal artery and innervated by branches from the pudendal nerve and the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. Data related to the evaluation of its cutaneous sensibility are scarce, discrepant, and subject to methodological criticism. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the cutaneous sensibility of the IPAP flap 12 months after perineal reconstruction and compare it with the preoperative cutaneous sensibility of the gluteal fold (flap donor area). METHODS A prospective study of 25 patients undergoing abdominoperineal excision of rectum (APER) and reconstruction with bilateral VY advancement IPAP flap was conducted. The tactile, pain, thermal, and vibration sensibilities were analyzed in four areas of the gluteal fold preoperatively and in the four corresponding areas of the flap 12 months after surgery. Tactile sensibility was assessed using the Pressure Specified Sensory Device™ (PSSD™), which measures the pressure applied to the skin. The other types of sensibility were analyzed using a needle for pain, hot/cold contact for thermal, and a tuning fork for vibration sensibility. RESULTS A comparison between tactile sensibility thresholds on the gluteal fold preoperatively and on the flap 12 months after surgery showed no statistically significant difference, with p values>0.05 in all four areas evaluated. All patients had preserved pain, thermal, and vibration sensibility in all four areas, postoperatively. CONCLUSION In oncological perineal reconstructions after APER, it is expected that the cutaneous sensibility on the IPAP flap be maintained.