William R. C. Stewart

Rectocele repair. Four years' experience.

A retrospective review of 64 rectocele repairs done over a four-year period was performed. The most common indication for repair was constipation. Thirty-five patients were repaired transanally, and 29 were repaired transvaginally. The overall morbidity was 34 percent, and the overall mortality was 0 percent. The most common complication was urinary retention in 12.5 percent. There was no difference in complications between techniques. Of 46 patients contacted for follow-up, 25 (54 percent) still complained of constipation, 17 (34 percent) had partial incontinence, 8 (17 percent) noted persistent rectal pain, 15 (32 percent) mentioned occasional rectal bleeding, and 10 (22 percent) complained of vaginal tightness or sexual dysfunction. Thirty-seven (80 percent) patients stated that they had improved after surgery. Except for persistent rectal pain, there was no difference in results between transanal and transvaginal repairs. Those undergoing transvaginal repair had a much greater problem with pain. Our relatively poor results may be due to an unselective approach to rectocele repair. The presence of both constipation and a rectocele does not imply an association, and a complete anorectal physiologic examination should precede repair. There is no functional difference between transvaginal and transanal rectocele repair.

Mucosal advancement in the treatment of anal fistula

One hundred eighty-nine patients with anal fistula treated within an eight-month to seven-year period by anal fistulectomy and rectal mucosal advancement are presented. An 80 percent follow-up revealed a 90 percent asymptomatic group and a ten percent group who had minor symptoms. Eight percent of the symptomatic patients had minor soiling; 7 percent were incontinent for gas, and 6 percent were incontinent for loose stools. No patient was incontinent for solid feces. There was a 1.5 percent rate of recurrent anal fistula comparable to other techniques.

Initial clinical experience with a biofragmentable ring for sutureless bowel anastomosis.

Twenty-seven patients have had bowel anastomoses with a biofragmentable ring for sutureless bowel anastomosis. There were no complications associated with the anastomotic techique. One patient developed an ischemic stricture of the proximal side of the anastomosis due to compromised circulation. There was no leakage. Technical factors regarding the BAR anastomosis are described. A properly placed purse-string suture is of primary importance. Advantages appear to be a more rapid and easy anastomosis with better healing.

Abdominal colon and rectal operations in the elderly.

Sixty-seven abdominal operations for colon and rectal disorders were performed on 56 patients 80 years of age or older from January 1, 1984 to June 30, 1989. Nine patients required multiple operations. Sixty-two procedures (92 percent) were performed on patients in their ninth decade; two operations were performed on patients 95 years of age or older. Forty-five patients (80 percent) were operated upon for carcinoma. Operations included segmental colectomy (33 patients), low anterior resection (12 patients), total abdominal colectomy (3 patients) and abdominoperineal resection (2 patients). Forty patients were classified as ASA Class III; the majority were monitored in the surgical intensive care unit for a mean of 2.84 days. Thirty patients were monitored with arterial catheters and 21 with central invasive monitoring. Operative mortality was 7 percent (4 patients). Two patients died from diffuse carcinomatosis; one patient had a fatal myocardial infarction. The final death occurred from multisystem organ failure following anastomotic dehiscence. Twenty-seven operations were performed without postoperative complications; 18 operations were followed by a single minor complication. The average hospital stay was 18.96 days. All patients were admitted from home. Thirty-three returned home postoperatively; 16 were discharged to an extended care facility. In conclusion, elderly patients with colon and rectal disorders can be operated upon with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Age alone should not interdict surgical therapy.

Surgical treatment of low rectovaginal fistulas

Forty women with low rectovaginal fistulas were operated upon over a 9-year period. The etiology of the fistula in the majority was obstetric. Nine women had prior attempts to repair the fistula. All 40 women were managed with endorectal advancement flap with the addition of sphincteroplasty or perineal body reconstruction in 15 patients and rectocele repair in six patients. Postoperative complications included urinary difficulties (two patients) and wound complications (three patients). There were two recurrences. All women treated with sphincteroplasty or perineal body reconstruction were continent. Seven women complained of varying degrees of incontinence postoperatively; none had undergone sphincter or perineal body reconstruction. Endorectal advancement flap is a safe and effective operation for women with rectovaginal fistulas. Concomitant sphincteroplasty or perineal body reconstruction should be performed in women with historical, physical, or manometric evidence of incontinence.

Sliding skin grafts in the treatment of anal fissures

SummaryThe basic principles of plastic surgery for sliding skin graft have been employed routinely in and about the anal canal. In 2,072 patients operated upon by the authors the infected fissure and crypt-bearing hemorrhoidal tissue was excised and the defect closed primarily with a broad-based sliding skin graft. Any associated disease—hemorrhoids, cryptitis, etc.—was also removed, employing the closed technic.Excision of a chronic fissurein ano and covering of the defect with a sliding-flap broad-based skin graft offers the advantages of: 1) decreased postoperative pain; 2) decreased postoperative wound care, in both hospital and office; 3) decreased incidence of postoperative complications (recurrent anal fissure and stenosis are rare, the diameter of the anus is actually increased and is our procedure of choice for anal stenosis); 4) primaryvs. secondary wound healing,i.e., a) healing more rapid, b) decreased scar and resultant deformity, c) decreased postoperative inflammatory response and infection; 5) the increased operative time is not harmful to the patient under caudal or epidural anesthesia.

Rectal tube decompression of left-colon anastomosis

Summary and ConclusionIn a series of 153 consecutive patients who underwent left-colon or colorectal anastomosis, an indwelling rectal tube was introduced through the anastomosis to provide postoperative decompression. In all instances the results were satisfactory. It eliminated the need for a proximal colostomy or cecostomy in the “difficult” or “questionable” anastomoses. Contrary to popular belief, there were no stomal complications attributable to the use of the rectal tube. In fact, complications were fewer than those encountered in other reported series in which a tube was not used.Introduction of a rectal tube through an anastomosis, after left-colon and colorectal anastomosis, is a safe and efficient method of providing decompression of the proximal portion of the colon. Furthermore, reinforcement of the anastomosis and removal of tension can be accomplished without fear of angulation. Adequate size of the stoma is assured. An avenue is provided for introduction of local antibiotic agents with which to bathe the suture line.

Vaginography: An easy and safe technique for diagnosis of colovaginal fistulas

Colovaginal fistulas are often difficult to demonstrate. Vaginography is a simple, safe, and effective technique.

Squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal: Management with combined chemo-radiation therapy

Twenty patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal received combined chemo-radiation therapy as their primary treatment. There were 18 women and two men with a mean age of 63 years (range, 34–91 years). The mean follow-up was 34 months (range, 6–62 months). Anal margin cancers and adenocarcinomas were excluded. Fourteen of 20 patients treated had a complete response. There were six local failures: three with residual disease at the end of treatment and three with recurrent disease at a later date. Of the three with residual disease, one underwent abdominoperineal resection and two received salvage therapy (one with chemo-radiation and one with radiation alone). All three patients with recurrent disease were treated with abdominoperineal resection. All six were disease free at the end of the study. Of the 14 patients with complete local response, one presented with liver metastases 19 months later. Sixteen patients (80 percent) were alive at the end of the study, and 19 patients (95 percent) had no evidence of disease. These data add support for salvage therapy in the treatment of patients with residual disease following initial chemo-radiation therapy. Salvage options for patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anus who fail the Nigro protocol will be discussed.

A new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch operation

Experience with a new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch operation for rectal procidentia in 16 extremely poor-risk patients is presented. The technique of implantation, structural details of the prosthesis, and the clinical results are described. The use of a new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch procedure is a viable alternative in this group of patients. Surgical technique is a primary determining factor in preventing complications.