Santhat Nivatvongs

The management of procidentia - 30 years' experience

This is a retrospective study evaluating 179 patients with complete rectal prolapse operated on at the University of Minnesota affiliated hospitals from 1953 to 1983 with no mortality. One hundred and two of 138 patients who underwent abdominal proctopexy and sigmoid resection were followed from six months to 30 years with a recurrence rate of 1.9 percent. Twenty-two of the 33 patients who underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy were followed from six months to three years with no recurrence. Nine patients who underwent abdominal proctopexy and subtotal colectomy because of colonic inertia associated with procidentia were followed from one to six years with no recurrence. Patient interviews revealed that 72 to 80 percent considered their results as excellent or good. Incontinence or persistent constipation caused the remaining patients to consider their results fair or poor, despite anatomic correction of the prolapse. Abdominal proctopexy and sigmoid resection was more likely to result in improvement of continence than was perineal rectosigmoidectomy.

Ileal Pouch—anal Anastomosis: Reoperation for Pouch-related Complications

The aim was to assess the value of reoperative surgery for pouch-related complications after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for chronic ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Between January 1981 and August 1989, 114 of 982 IPAA patients (12%) seen at the Mayo Clinic had complications directly related to IPAA that required reoperation. Among the 114 patients, the complications prevented initial ileostomy closure in 33 patients (25%), occurred after ileostomy closure in 68 patients (60%), and delayed ileostomy closure in the remaining patients. The salvage procedures performed included anal dilatation under anesthesia for anastomotic strictures, placement of setons and/or fistulotomy for perianal fistulae, unroofing of anastomotic sinuses, simple drainage and antibiotics for perianal abscesses, abdominal exploration with drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses with or without establishment of ileostomy, and complete or partial reconstruction of the reservoir for patients with inadequate emptying. None of the reoperated patients died. Reoperation led to restoration of pouch function in two thirds of patients and, of these, 70% had an excellent clinical outcome. However approximately 20% of the 114 pouches required excision. Excision was common, especially among patients who had pelvic sepsis. Salvage procedures for pouch-specific complications can be done safely and will restore pouch function in two thirds of patients. Complications after reoperation, however, may ultimately lead to loss of the reservoir in one in five patients.

Randomized prospective trial comparing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis performed by excising the anal mucosa to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis performed by preserving the anal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to compare the results of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients in whom the anal mucosa is excised by handsewn techniques to those in whom the mucosa is preserved using stapling techniques. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the operation of choice for patients with chronic ulcerative colitis requiring proctocolectomy. Controversy exists over whether preserving the transitional mucosa of the anal canal improves outcomes. METHODS Forty-one patients (23 men, 18 women) were randomized to either endorectal mucosectomy and handsewn IPAA or to double-stapled IPAA, which spared the anal transition zone. All patients were diverted for 2 to 3 months. Nine patients were excluded. Preoperative functional status was assessed by questionnaire and anal manometry. Twenty-four patients underwent more extensive physiologic evaluation, including scintigraphic anopouch angle studies and pudendel never terminal motor latency a mean of 6 months after surgery. Quality of life similarly was estimated before surgery and after surgery. Univariate analysis using Wilcoxon test was used to assess differences between groups. RESULTS The two groups were identical demographically. Overall outcomes in both groups were good. Thirty-three percent of patients who underwent the handsewn technique and 35% of patients who underwent the double-stapled technique experienced a postoperative complication. Resting anal canal pressures were higher in the patients who underwent the stapled technique, but other physiologic parameters were similar between groups. Night-time fecal incontinence occurred less frequently in the stapled group but not significantly. The number of stools per 24 hours decreased from preoperative values in both groups. After IPAA, quality of life improved promptly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Stapled IPAA, which preserves the mucosa of the anal transition zone, confers no apparent early advantage in terms of decreased stool frequency or fewer episodes of fecal incontinence compared to handsewn IPAA, which excises the mucosa. Higher resting pressures in the stapled group coupled with a trend toward less night-time incontinence, however, may portend better function in the stapled group over time. Both operations are safe and result in rapid and profound improvement in quality of life.

The true incidence of synchronous cancer of the large bowel. A prospective study.

The reported incidence of synchronous primary cancers and polyps associated with single cancers of the large bowel is varied. In a prospective study over a 5 year period, 166 patients with primary colorectal cancer had either total colonoscopy preoperatively or total colonoscopy within 6 months of surgical resection. One hundred seventy-eight cancers were detected. Synchronous cancers were found in eight patients (5 percent), and benign neoplastic polyps were demonstrated in 46 patients with single cancers (28 percent) and in 112 patients with synchronous primary cancers (38 percent). Of significance is that seven of eight (88 percent) synchronous cancers would not have been included in the standard resection for the index primary cancer. Similarly 31 of 46 neoplastic polyps (67 percent) were not in the same surgical segment as the primary cancer. Total large bowel evaluation, preferably using colonoscopy, is essential in all patients with cancer of the large bowel.

Overlapping sphincteroplasty for acquired anal incontinence

When defects of the anal sphincter are caused by trauma, surgical correction can be successful even in long-standing cases. At the University of Minnesota, we used overlapping sphincteroplasty in 79 patients with fecal incontinence from 1952 to 1982. There were 62 women and 17 men. Ages ranged from 17 to 68 years. Incontinence had been present from three weeks to 40 years and had been caused by childbirth, previous anorectal surgery, trauma or rectal prolapse. Following overlapping sphincteroplasty, there was one postoperative death and 13 complications. Complications included temporary difficulty in voiding, excessive bleeding, abscess formation, fecal impaction, and hematoma. Seventy-six of the 78 surviving patients were followed for an average of 35 months. Results ranged from excellent to poor with only one failure. From our experience it was concluded that several factors were important for good surgical results. 1) The patient must have intact neuromuscular bundle with detectable voluntary sphincter contraction. 2) If a primary repair has failed, a minimum duration of three months should elapse before overlapping sphincteroplasty is attempted. 3) Scar tissue from the severed muscles should not be excised. 4) The internal and external sphincter muscles should not be separated. 5) A temporary concomitant colostomy is not necessary.

Endorectal advancement flap for treatment of simple rectovaginal fistula

An endorectal advancement flap technique has been utilized in 35 women for repair of “simple” rectovaginal fistulas,i.e., those of low or midseptal location, less than 2.5 cm in diameter, and of traumatic or infectious etiology. Colostomy is unnecessary. Concomitant sphincteroplasty for correction of associated anal incontinence is readily accomplished. Results are excellent with healing ultimately achieved in 32 of 35 women (91 per cent).

Complications in colonoscopic polypectomy

One thousand five-hundred fifty-five polyps were removed from 1172 patients; the sizes ranged from 5 mm to 6 cm. Nineteen complications accounted for 1.2 percent. Bleeding was the most common complication, followed by transmural burn. Other complications included a silent free perforation, a snare-wire entrapment, and an ensnared bowel wall. The complications in colonoscopic polypectomy are low. With proper technique, better selection of patients, and a broad knowledge of the causes and mechanisms, however, the complication rate can be reduced even more.

Colorectal polyps in Cowden's disease (multiple hamartoma syndrome)

Colorectal polyps are described in five patients with Cowdens disease. A brother-sister kindred and two unrelated patients had multiple colonic polyps 0.1-0.4 cm in diameter. Microscopical examination of seven polyps removed from these four patients showed distinctive lesions which were probably hamartomatous, and characterized by disorganization and proliferation of the muscularis mucosae with minimally abnormal overlying mucosa. The fifth patient had a solitary 2-cm epitheloid leiomyoma resected from the rectum.Review of all cases of Cowdens disease in the English literature suggests that gastrointestinal polyposis may be a frequent finding if it is specifically searched for. It does not appear that the previously reported association of Cowdens disease with gastrointestinal cancer is valid. The discovery of multiple colonic polyps 0.1-0.4 cm in diameter with a rectosigmoid distribution and a hamartomatous microscopical appearance is characteristic of Cowdens disease. Cowdens disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal polyposis states.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal reservoir and ileoanal anastomosis

An initial experience with a technique of restorative proctocolectomy utilizing a rectal mucosectomy, total colectomy, and ileal reservoir (Parks S-pouch) with ileoanal anastomosis for patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis is presented. Although there were no deaths, significant morbidity did occur and was attributed to the use of a temporary loop ileostomy which may not be necessary. Early functional results are promising and to date, patient satisfaction is very high.

Colonoscopic decompression of acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon.

The recent advances in technology have made it possible to decompress acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon with colonoscope instead of celiotomy and cecostomy. Twenty-two patients who developed acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon and underwent colonoscopy were analyzed. The authors were successful in completely or partially decompressing the dilated colon in 19 of 22 patients. There were no complications. Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon is usually secondary to intra-or extra-abdominal insult resulting in direct or reflex derangement of the sacral parasympathetic outflow. This causes a functional obstruction of the left colon. The goal of management is to prevent colonic perforation while treating the primary problems. Once the diagnosis has been made, colonoscopy should be attempted. Celiotomy should be reserved to cases in which colonoscopy is unsuccessful or in cases with perforation or impending perforation.