Francisco Sérgio Pinheiro Regadas

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.

The role of 3-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in the assessment of anterior transsphincteric fistula.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of 3-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in the choice of surgical technique according to the position of the fistulous tract in patients with anterior transsphincteric anal fistula. METHODS: A total of 33 patients (18 male) with anterior transsphincteric fistulas were evaluated by ultrasonography. The length of the external and internal anal sphincters, the position of the internal opening, the length of the compromised sphincter, and the percentage of sphincter muscle to be transected during surgery were measured, compared between sexes, and used in planning the surgery. Postoperative incontinence symptoms were quantified with a Wexner score. RESULTS: The external and internal sphincters were longer and the position of the internal opening was higher in males. The position where the tract crossed the external sphincter was in both sexes, but the percentage of compromised muscle was higher in females because of the smaller length of the external sphincter. Seton placement followed by fistulotomy or advanced flap repair were indicated in 11 of 18 males and 13 of 15 females as the tract crossed the external sphincter above 50.0%. The mean postoperative follow-up was 12 months. Overall, minor fecal incontinence symptoms were identified in 16 (48.0%) patients. Of these, 11 (73.0%) females and 5 (28.0%) males had a mean incontinence score of 2.9 and 3.0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional ultrasonography was shown to be useful in the preoperative assessment of anterior transsphincteric fistulas by quantifying the length of muscle to be transected, contributing to the choice of a safe treatment approach and to the reduction of the rate of postoperative continence disorders.

Anatomic characteristics of anal fistula on three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for anal fistula is often associated with continence disorders due to the transection of sphincter muscles. Extensive knowledge of anal canal anatomy and anal fistula can help prevent this outcome. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to correlate the anatomical conformation of the anal canal, the fistula track, and the internal opening according to sex and hemicircumference (anterior vs posterior) by use of 3-dimensional ultrasonography. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five patients with fistula were evaluated with 3-dimensional ultrasound and grouped according to sex, fistula type, internal opening, and track position. Fistulas were transsphincteric in 128 subjects and intersphincteric in 37 subjects. The study measured the external and internal anal sphincter, the puborectalis, the distance from the internal opening to the distal edge of the external and internal sphincter, the length of the internal and external sphincter compromised by the track, and the percentage of compromised muscle. RESULTS: The anal canal muscles were longer in males. The distance from the internal opening to the internal sphincter was greater for the posterior hemicircumference. The point where the fistulous track crossed the anterior external sphincter was similar for the 2 sexes, but the percentage of compromised muscle was greater in females. The point where the fistulous track crossed the internal sphincter was similar for the 2 sexes, but the percentage of compromised internal sphincter was greater in males for the posterior hemicircumference. The study was limited by the absence of testing for interobserver and intraobserver agreement. CONCLUSION: The anal canal muscles are longer in males and the pectinate line is asymmetrical. In females, the percentage of compromised external sphincter was greater in the anterior hemicircumference because of the shorter external sphincter, whereas in males the percentage of compromised internal sphincter was greater in the posterior hemicircumference.

Effect of soluble fiber or fructooligosaccharide supplementation upon trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid induced colitis in rats.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of soluble fiber or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation upon trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS 64 Wistar rats were given water, soluble fiber or FOS intragastrically during 14 days prior to colitis induction with TNBS (n=48) or rectal enema with water (n=16; control group). On the 7th or 14th day following colitis induction the rats were weighed and euthanized in order to determine the colon weight/length ratio and macroscopic and microscopic scores. RESULTS On the 7th day following colitis induction the body weight had decreased significantly, the colon weight/length ratio had increased and macroscopic and microscopic colon lesions were observed. On the 14th day following colitis induction no difference in body weight was observed, in spite of the persistence of macroscopic and microscopic lesions and increased colon weight/length ratio. Supplementation with soluble fiber or FOS did not revert colon lesions or any of the study parameters. Supplementation with FOS, but not with fiber, was associated with increased colon weight/length ratio on the 14th day. CONCLUSION Supplementation with soluble fiber or FOS produced no significant impact on TNBS-induced colitis in rats.

NEUROMODULAÇÃO SACRAL PARA TRATAMENTO DOS DISTÚRBIOS DO ASSOALHO PÉLVICO. ASPECTOS TÉCNICOS PARA IMPLANTE EFETIVO

intestinal, permaneceu assintomático. Foi a óbito em março de 2017 por causas decorrentes da neoplasia de pâncreas. Discussão: Uma vez implantados, os stents se expandem lentamente, conseguem assim a permeabilidade da anatomia obstruída. Esse método pode ser usado como uma medida paliativa definitiva ou pode ser usado como tratamento provisório ate a estabilização do paciente para posteriormente fazer a cirurgia. É bem estabelecido o uso de stents metálicos em obstrução intestinal, contudo os dados da literatura sobre seu uso por compressões extrínsecas são escassos. Conclusão: Este caso veio corroborar a literatura em relação à boa eficácia e segurança na uso de stents metálicos colorretais nos casos de obstrução intestinal.

Correlation Between Echodefecography and 3-Dimensional Vaginal Ultrasonography in the Detection of Perineal Descent in Women With Constipation Symptoms

BACKGROUND: Defecography is an established method of evaluating dynamic anorectal dysfunction, but conventional defecography does not allow for visualization of anatomic structures. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the use of dynamic 3-dimensional endovaginal ultrasonography for evaluating perineal descent in comparison with echodefecography (3-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography) and to study the relationship between perineal descent and symptoms and anatomic/functional abnormalities of the pelvic floor. DESIGN: This was a prospective study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a large university tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive female patients were eligible if they had pelvic floor dysfunction, obstructed defecation symptoms, and a score >6 on the Cleveland Clinic Florida Constipation Scale. INTERVENTIONS: Each patient underwent both echodefecography and dynamic 3-dimensional endovaginal ultrasonography to evaluate posterior pelvic floor dysfunction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Normal perineal descent was defined on echodefecography as puborectalis muscle displacement ⩽2.5 cm; excessive perineal descent was defined as displacement >2.5 cm. RESULTS: Of 61 women, 29 (48%) had normal perineal descent; 32 (52%) had excessive perineal descent. Endovaginal ultrasonography identified 27 of the 29 patients in the normal group as having anorectal junction displacement ⩽1 cm (mean = 0.6 cm; range, 0.1–1.0 cm) and a mean anorectal junction position of 0.6 cm (range, 0–2.3 cm) above the symphysis pubis during the Valsalva maneuver and correctly identified 30 of the 32 patients in the excessive perineal descent group. The &kgr; statistic showed almost perfect agreement (&kgr; = 0.86) between the 2 methods for categorization into the normal and excessive perineal descent groups. Perineal descent was not related to fecal or urinary incontinence or anatomic and functional factors (sphincter defects, pubovisceral muscle defects, levator hiatus area, grade II or III rectocele, intussusception, or anismus). LIMITATIONS: The study did not include a control group without symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasonography is a reliable technique for assessment of perineal descent. Using this technique, excessive perineal descent can be defined as displacement of the anorectal junction >1 cm and/or its position below the symphysis pubis on Valsalva maneuver.