Stanley M. Goldberg

Anal fistula surgery: Factors associated with recurrence and incontinence

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess results of surgery for fistula-in-ano and identify risk factors for fistula recurrence and impaired continence. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 624 patients who underwent surgery for fistula-in-ano between 1988 and 1992. Follow-up was by mailed questionnaire, with 375 patients (60 percent) responding. Mean follow-up was 29 months. Fistulas were intersphincteric in 180 patients, transsphincteric in 108, suprasphincteric in 6, extrasphincteric in 6, and unclassified in 75. Procedures included fistulotomy and marsupialization (n=300), seton placement (n=63), endorectal advancement flap (n=3), and other (n=9). Factors associated with recurrence and incontinence were analyzed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The fistula recurred in 31 patients (8 percent), and 45 percent complained of some degree of postoperative incontinence. Factors associated with recurrence included complex type of fistula, horseshoe extension, lack of identification or lateral location of the internal fistulous opening, previous fistula surgery, and the surgeon performing the procedure. Incontinence was associated with female sex, high anal fistula, type of surgery, and previous fistula surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of fistula-in-ano is associated with a significant risk of recurrence and a high risk of impaired continence. Degree of risk varies with identifiable factors.

Symptomatic hemorrhoids: Current incidence and complications of operative therapy

Hemorrhoidal disease affects more than one million Americans per year. We reviewed the treatment pattern for patients who presented with symptomatic hemorrhoids to our large university-affiliated group practice over a 66-month period. Over 21,000 patients presented to the practice with bleeding, thrombosis, or prolapse. Only 9.3 percent of patients required operative therapy. Conservative therapy was given to 45.2 percent of patients, while rubber band ligation was performed on 44.8 percent of patients. We retrospectively reviewed the complications and length of stay for a subset of patients undergoing operative therapy during the 66-month study period. Postoperative urinary complications (retention or infection) were seen in 20.1 percent of patients. Delayed hemorrhage was seen in 2.4 percent of patients. In-hospital length of stay was 2.5 days, which is approximately two days less than the length of stay found in a similar review of our practice in 1978. We conclude that over 90 percent of symptomatic hemorrhoids can be treated conservatively or with rubber band ligation, and, as surgery is reserved for only the most severe cases, complication rates may not decrease. However, we expect that in-hospital length of stay will continue to decrease over the ensuing years.

Endorectal ultrasound in the preoperative staging of rectal tumors : a learning experience

The preoperative staging of rectal cancer has important implications for treatment as local therapies become increasingly utilized. Seventy-seven patients underwent preoperative staging using endorectal ultrasonography. All patients had complete pathologic staging and none had preoperative radiotherapy. Depth of invasion of the tumor was accurately predicted in 75 percent of cases in the entire group, with 22 percent overstaged and 3 percent understaged. Accuracy improved greatly over the study period, and in the past six months, 95 percent have been accurately staged for depth of invasion with 5 percent overstaged. Lymph nodes have been properly classified into positive and negative groups in 88 percent of cases in the past year, with a specificity of 90 percent and a sensitivity of 88 percent. Endorectal ultrasound is an accurate preoperative staging modality. Accuracy is improved greatly with increased experience and it has been found that the 5-layer anatomical model facilitates accurate staging. Introduction of the ultrasound probe through a previously placed proctoscope ensures complete scanning of the entire lesion and should be used for the majority of examinations.

Complete rectal prolapse: evolution of management and results.

Optional treatment for complete rectal prolapse remains controversial. PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience over a 19-year period to assess trends in choice of operation, recurrence rates, and functional results. METHODS: We identified 372 patients who underwent surgery for complete rectal prolapse between 1976 and 1994. Charts were reviewed and follow-up (median, 64; range, 12–231 months) was obtained by mailed questionnaire (149 patients; 40 percent) and telephone interview (35 patients; 9 percent). Functional results were obtained from 184 responders (49 percent). RESULTS: Median age of patients was 64 (11–100) years, and females outnumbered males by nine to one. One-hundred and eighty-eight patients (51 percent) were lost to follow-up; 183 patients (49 percent) underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy, and 161 patients (43 percent) underwent abdominal rectopexy with bowel resection. The percentage of patients who underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy increased from 22 percent in the first five years of the study to 79 percent in the most recent five years. Patients undergoing perineal rectosigmoidectomy were more likely to have associated medical problems as compared with patients undergoing abdominal rectopexy (61vs. 30 percent,P=0.00001). There was no significant difference in morbidity, with 14 percent for perineal rectosigmoidectomyvs. 20 percent for abdominal rectopexy. Abdominal procedures were associated with a longer length of stay as compared with perineal rectosigmoidectomy (8vs. 5 days,P=0.001). Perineal procedures, however, had a higher recurrence rate (16vs. 5 percent,P=0.002). Functional improvement was not significantly different, and most patients were satisfied with treatment and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that abdominal rectopexy with bowel resection is associated with low recurrence rates. Perineal rectosigmoidectomy provides lower morbidity and shorter length of stay, but recurrence rates are much higher. Despite this, perineal rectosigmoidectomy has appeal as a lesser procedure for elderly patients or those patients in the high surgical risk category. For younger patients, the benefits of perineal rectosigmoidectomy being a lesser procedure must be weighed against a higher recurrence rate.

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.

The treatment of high fistula-in-ano

ConclusionIn assessing the results in this series, an attempt has been made to rationalize the methods of treatment and emphasize the importance of a sound anatomic basis for both classification and management. The technical methods are somewhat of a compromise. The classic methods of staged division of muscle, together with the use of the seton (for drainage only) are combined with exploration of the intersphincteric plane to eliminate the causative factor of the disease.Because these “high” fistulas are uncommon, particularly the suprasphincteric and extrasphincteric varieties, there is little information in the literature with which to compare the figures. It is hoped that the experience gained in treating these cases will act as a guide for surgeons who see complicated fistulas infrequently, and also act as a baseline for further reappraisal of treatment methods. The ultimate aim must be to obtain healing of the fistula, at the same time minimizing disturbance of function.

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.

Repair of simple rectovaginal fistulas. Influence of previous repairs.

The results of 81 endorectal flap advancements for simple rectovaginal fistulas are reported. Simple fistulas are defined as <2.5 cm in diameter, low or mid vaginal septum in location, and infectious or traumatic in origin. Essentially, the technique is advancement of a flap of mucosa, submucosa, and circular muscle over midline approximation of internal sphincter muscle. The mean patient age was 34 years old (range, 18 to 76 years). The causes were obstetrical injury (74 percent), perineal infection (10 percent), operative trauma (7 percent), and unknown (8 percent). Overall, the repair was successful in 83 percent of patients. Success correlated with the number of previous repairs,i.e., none: 88 percent success; one: 85 percent success; two: 55 percent success. There were 25 concomitant overlapping sphincteroplasty procedures. Only minor complications ensued, with no mortality. This repair is recommended for patients with no or one previous repair because of its lack of mortality, minimal morbidity, ease of concomitant sphincteroplasty, and avoidance of a colostomy. For patients with two or more earlier repairs, a muscle interposition should be considered.

Treatment of rectal prolapse in the elderly by perineal rectosigmoidectomy.

The results and complications of perineal rectosigmoidectomy for complete rectal prolapse in 114 patients have been reviewed. Most patients were elderly and high risk by virtue of other concurrent medical conditions. Fourteen patients (12 percent) developed significant postoperative complications. Hospital stay was short (median, four days). Ten patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 104 patients were followed for 3 to 90 months. Eleven patients (10 percent) developed recurrent fullthickness rectal prolapse; six of them underwent repeat perineal rectosigmoidectomy. Sixty-seven patients had fecal incontinence prior to surgery. Eleven patients underwent concomitant levatoroplasty; 10 of them either improved or regained full continence of feces postoperatively. Twenty-six of the 56 patients who underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy alone improved or regained full continence. Rectal prolapse can be successfully treated by perineal rectosigmoidectomy in elderly, highrisk patients with minimal morbidity. Levatoroplasty dramatically improves fecal incontinence occurring in association with rectal prolapse.

Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract: an effective new technique for complex fistulas.

INTRODUCTION: The management of complex fistulas is difficult. Maintaining continence while achieving durable fistula closure is the goal of surgical management. This study describes our experience with a novel sphincter-sparing technique called the ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract, which involves ligation and division of the fistula tract in the intersphincteric space. METHODS: All patients from July 2007 to December 2008 with trans- or suprasphincteric fistula treated with the procedure were prospectively followed. Procedures were performed by surgeons with fellowship training in a referral center. Demographic data, comorbidities, previous repair attempts, and postoperative data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients underwent a ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract during a 17-month period. Median age was 49 years. A total of 29 patients (74%) had previous attempts at repair, with a median of 2 failed repairs. Follow-up data were available in 90% (35 of 39). Median follow-up was 20 weeks. Successful fistula closure was achieved in 57% of the patients (20 of 35). Median time to failure was 10 weeks (range, 2–38 weeks). No patient reported any subjective decrease in continence after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract is a new sphincter-sparing procedure for complex transsphincteric fistula. The success rate is comparable with other sphincter-preserving techniques. Importantly, it appeared to effectively preserve continence. Adding safe, muscle-sparing surgical options to our armamentarium for dealing with transsphincteric fistula is essential. Additionally, the procedure is easy to learn and has very low cost. Long-term follow-up and randomized, controlled trials are necessary to assess efficacy and durability.