M. Leela Prasad

Role of the seton in the management of anorectal fistulas

PURPOSE: To identify the incidence of major fecal incontinence and recurrence after staged fistulotomy using a seton. METHODS: A five-year retrospective chart review of 116 patients (70 males and 46 females) ranging in age from 18 to 81 years (mean, 42 years), in whom setons were placed as part of a surgical procedure for anorectal fistulas, was carried out. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 61 months (mean, 23 months). RESULTS: Setons were employed to identify and promote fibrosis around a complex anorectal fistula as part of a staged fistulotomy in 65 patients (56 percent). Other indications for seton placement included 24 women with anteriorly situated high transsphincteric fistulas (21 percent) and three patients with massive anorectal sepsis (floating, freestanding anus) (2.5 percent). In addition, setons were used to preclude premature skin closure and promote controlled long-term fistula drainage in 21 patients with severe anorectal Crohns disease (18 percent) and in three patients with AIDS (2.5 percent). Major fecal incontinence (requiring the use of a perineal pad) occurred in five patients (5 percent), and recurrent fistulas were noted in three (3 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Staged fistulotomy using a seton is a safe and effective method of treating high or complicated anorectal fistulas.

Iatrogenic perforation of the colon and rectum

In eight years at Cook County Hospital, 42,000 barium enemas, 16,325 proctosigmoidoscopies, and 1207 colonoscopies were performed. All endoscopic procedures were done by the house staff. There were three perforations due to proctosigmoidoscopy, with one death; three perforations due to colonoscopy, with no deaths; and seven perforations due to barium enema, with no survivors. The adjuvant effect of barium sulfate is proposed as the most likely cause for this excessively high mortality in barium-enema perforation.

Management of recurrent rectal prolapse

PURPOSE: Many operations have been described for the management of rectal prolapse. Despite an overall recurrence rate of greater than 15 percent, few reviews address how to deal with this problem. This report summarizes our experience with recurrent rectal prolapse and includes suggestions for reoperative management of failed repairs from both abdominal and perineal approaches. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients (3 male) ranging in age from 22 to 92 (mean, 68) years underwent operative correction of recurrent rectal prolapse. Average time from initial operation to recurrence was 14 (range, 6–60) months. Initial operations (before recurrence) were as follows: perineal proctectomy and levatorplasty (10), anal encirclement (2), Delormes procedure (1), and anterior resection (1). Operative procedures performed for recurrence were as follows: perineal proctectomy and levatorplasty (7), sacral rectopexy (abdominal approach; 3), anterior resection with rectopexy (2), Delormes procedure (1), and anal encirclement (1). Average length of follow-up was 50 (range, 9–115) months. RESULTS: No further episodes of complete rectal prolapse were observed during this period. Preoperatively, three patients were noted to be incontinent to the extent that necessitated the use of perineal pads. The reoperative procedures failed to restore fecal continence in any of these three individuals. One patient died in the postoperative period after anal encirclement from an unrelated cause. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of recurrent rectal prolapse can be expected to alleviate the prolapse, but not necessarily fecal incontinence. Perineal proctectomies can be safely repeated. Resectional procedures may result in an ischemic segment between two anastomoses, unless the surgeon can resect a previous anastomosis in the repeat procedure. Nonresectional procedures such as the Delormes procedure should be strongly considered in the management of recurrent rectal prolapse if a resectional procedure was performed initially and failed.

Bilateral gluteus maximus transposition for anal incontinence

Seven patients (five men and two women) ranging in age from 26 to 65 years (¯x=44) underwent bilateral gluteus maximus transposition for complete anal incontinence. The indications for operation were sphincter destruction secondary to multiple fistulotomies (n=4), bilateral pudendal nerve damage (n=2), and high imperforate anus (n=1). The procedure is performed without the use of a diverting colostomy. The inferior portion of the origin of each gluteus maximus is detached from the sacrum and coccyx, bifurcated, and tunneled subcutaneously to encircle the anus. The ends are then sutured together to form two opposing slings of voluntary muscle. Postoperatively, six patients regained continence to solid stool, two to liquid stool as well, and only one patient in this group was able to control flatus. Although resting pressures remained unchanged, voluntary squeeze pressures were restored by this operation. In addition, rectal sensation was markedly improved, which helps make this a worthwhile procedure for properly selected patients.

Malignant potential of perianal condyloma acuminatum

Perianal condyloma is usually a benign disease, but may become locally aggressive; carcinomatous change may occur. This disease could be potentially malignant, and if malignant transformation occurs the treatment should include abdominoperineal resection. Perianal condylomas in association with anal fistula show malignant behavior; should such malignant behavior develop in perianal condyloma, the disease should be treated aggressively with excision and immunotherapy. Abdominoperineal resection may be necessary.

York Mason procedure for repair of postoperative rectoprostatic urethral fistula

Rectoprostatic fistula is a rare complication after transurethral resection of the prostate or prostatectomy for benign and malignant neoplasms of the prostate. Repair of these fistulas is difficult, especially when previous treatment includes radiation therapy to the prostate. Various operative approaches have been described to close these inaccessible fistulas. Because of their location near the outlet of the pelvis, access to or exposure of these fistulas is quite limited. These fistulas can be easily exposed and repaired through the posterior wall of the rectum (transsphincteric approach). Three patients with rectoprostatic urethral fistulas were repaired successfully by using this method.

Bacteremia associated with lower gastrointestinal endoscopy: Fact or fiction?

A survey of the medical literature reveals conflicting data as to whether bacteremia occurs during endoscopic examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract. In an attempt to study this problem a prospective study was undertaken, and the first arm of the study included patients undergoing colonoscopy. The second arm of the study, comprising patients undergoing proctosigmoidoscopy, will be presented subsequently. Fifty-one patients undergoing colonoscopy were studied. Excluded from the study were patients with elevation of temperature above 101°F, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, valvular heart disease, vascular prosthesis, chemotherapy, or immunosuppression. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were done before and after the procedure, as well as at timed intervals during the procedure. Whenever biopsy or polypectomy were carried out, further cultures were done. Skin cultures were done from venipuncture sites. In one patient (2 per cent)Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in more than one set of cultures. Polypectomy or biopsy were not associated with bacteremia.A survey of the medical literature reveals conflicting data as to whether bacteremia occurs during endoscopic examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract. In an attempt to study this problem a prospective study was undertaken, and the first arm of the study included patients undergoing colonoscopy. The second arm of the study, comprising patients undergoing proctosigmoidoscopy, will be presented subsequently. Fifty-one patients undergoing colonoscopy were studied. Excluded from the study were patients with elevation of temperature above 101 degrees F, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, valvular heart disease, vascular prosthesis, chemotherapy, or immunosuppression. Aerobic and anaerobic culture were done before and after the procedure, as well as at timed intervals during the procedure. Whenever biopsy or polypectomy were carried out, further cultures were done. Skin cultures were done from venipuncture sites. In one patient (2 per cent) Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in more than one set of cultures. Polypectomy or biopsy were not associated with bacteremia.

Rodless end-loop stomas : seven-year experience

The rodless, end-loop stoma was developed as an alternative to the more traditional loop stoma to minimize patient management problems. A retrospective review of our seven-year experience in 229 patients with end-loop colostomies (135), ileocolostomies (70), and ileostomies (24) is presented. A total of 30 stoma-related complications were observed in 27 stomas, for an overall complication rate of 13.1 percent. The most common complications were skin excoriation secondary to leakage (3.5 percent), retraction (3.5 percent), partial necrosis (2.6 percent), and peristomal sepsis (1.8 percent). Mucocutaneous separation, prolapse, and stenosis were each seen in less than one percent of patients. No cases of stomal herniation, obstruction, or hemorrhage were encountered. Twelve deaths occurred, but none was attributed to stoma-related complications. The rodless, endloop stoma is a simple and safe procedure with many advantages and a low incidence of complications.

Inverted U-pouch construction for restoration of function in patients with failed straight ileoanal pull-throughs

Patients who have undergone straight ileoanal pull-through operations without a reservoir in adult life frequently have unsatisfactory results. Operative correction of this problem has been difficult. We propose a new operation that preserves the ileoanal anastomosis, constructs a reservoir, and has resulted in good restoration of bowel function in three patients. The operative procedure consists of division of the ileum 30 cm above the dentate line. The distal ileum is then folded over itself so that the point of division reaches into the pelvis, between the rectal muscular cuff and pulled-through ileum, to a point just proximal to the dentate line. The two limbs of ileum are connected using a stapler, completing the reservoir construction. The proximal divided ileum is anastomosed, end-to-side, to the pouch. A protective ileostomy that can be closed in three months is constructed.

Preoperative antimicrobial preparation of the colon with povidone-iodine enema

To evaluate the efficacy of povidone-iodine enemas as a means of preoperative bowel preparation in colonic surgery, 52 mongrel dogs were randomized into two groups. Group 1 received oral neomycinerythromycin combinations in the usual clinical doses, while Group 2 received a single 500-ml 5 percent povidone-iodine enema preoperatively. Quantitative bacterial counts obtained at the time of colonic resection revealed that povidone-iodine was equally effective in reducing the anaerobes, but was significantly superior to neomycinerythromycin combinations in reducing the aerobic colony counts. Bursting pressures, measured three weeks later, were equal in both groups. Despite elevated blood-iodine levels, no systemic toxicity was noted in Group 2 dogs. It is concluded that half-strength povidoneiodine, given as a single enema preoperatively, is equally effective as standard preoperative antibiotic preparations and may be the ideal preparation in urgent or emergency colonic operations. Due to reported toxicity of povidone-iodine in burn wounds, we suggest that initial trials be limited to emergency cases where the potential benefits possibly will be greater than the theoretic risk of iodine toxicity.