Erratum: Biofeedback Therapy Before Ileostomy Closure in Patients Undergoing Sphincter-Saving Surgery for Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study

In this article, the sixth author's affiliation was misprinted unintentionally.

Biofeedback Therapy Before Ileostomy Closure in Patients Undergoing Sphincter-Saving Surgery for Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE: This study prospectively investigated the effects of biofeedback therapy on objective anorectal function and subjective bowel function in patients after sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent an ileostomy were randomized into two groups, one receiving conservative management with the Kegel maneuver and the other receiving active biofeedback before ileostomy closure. Among them, 12 patients (mean age, 57.5 years; range, 38 to 69 years; 6 patients in each group) completed the study. Conservative management included lifestyle modifications, Kegel exercises, and medication. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after ileostomy closure by using anal manometry, modified Wexner Incontinence Scores (WISs), and fecal incontinence quality of life (FI-QoL) scores. RESULTS: Before the ileostomy closure, the groups did not differ in baseline clinical characteristics or resting manometric parameters. After 12 months of follow-up, the biofeedback group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the mean maximum squeezing pressure (from 146.3 to 178.9, P = 0.002). However, no beneficial effect on the WIS was noted for biofeedback compared to conservative management alone. Overall, the FI-QoL scores were increased significantly in both groups after ileostomy closure (P = 0.006), but did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the biofeedback therapy group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the maximum squeezing pressure, significant improvements in the WISs and the FI-QoL scores over time were noted in both groups. The study was terminated early because no therapeutic benefit of biofeedback had been demonstrated.

The Ratio Between the Percentage of Lymphocytes and Glucose Levels in Pericardial Fluid as a Method to Diagnose Tuberculous Pericarditis / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a valuable biochemical marker for pericardial effusion (PE) and may be useful for diagnosing tuberculous pericarditis (TPE) in patients with PE. However, no definite cut-off or borderline values for ADA currently exist to distinguish TPE from other PE etiologies. In this study, we identified other useful parameters and characterized their relationship with ADA as a method for diagnosing TPE. METHODS: From June 2004 to November 2011, 42 patients underwent pericardiocentesis due to moderate or severe PE, as confirmed by echocardiography or chest computed tomography (CT). Patients were subdivided into TPE and non-TPE (NTPE) groups. We analyzed ADA (p) (the pericardial ADA) and %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) (the ratio between the percentage of lymphocytes and glucose levels in PE). RESULTS: We defined the cut-off value of ADA (p) as 48.5 IU/L, and that of %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) as 0.678%.dL/mg. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, an odds ratio (OR) of 44.24 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.85-686.97 were observed in patients with an ADA (p) > or = 48.5 IU/L (p = 0.023). An OR of 20.39 and a 95% CI of 1.06-392.93 were observed in patients with a %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) > or = 0.678%.dL/mg (p = 0.046). The combination of ADA (p) and %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) had a higher positive predictive value (PPV, 80.0%) and specificity (Sp, 93.8%) than either ADA (p) (PPV, 47.4%; Sp, 68.8%) or %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) (PPV, 69.2%; Sp, 87.5%) alone. CONCLUSIONS: %Lymph (p)/Glucose (p) is a useful parameter for distinguishing TPE from other pericardial diseases if combined with an ADA (p) > or = 48.5 IU/L.

Surgical Treatment of a Parastomal Hernia

PURPOSE: Parastomal hernia is a major complication of an intestinal stoma. This study was performed to compare the results of various operative methods to treat parastomal hernias. METHODS: Results of surgical treatment for parastomal hernias (postoperative recurrence, complications and postoperative hospital stays) were surveyed in 39 patients over an 11-year period. The patients enrolled in this study underwent surgery by a single surgeon to exclude surgeon bias. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were male, and twenty-two patients were female. The mean age was 65.9 years (range, 36 to 86 years). The stomas were 35 sigmoid-end-colostomies (90%), 2 loop-colostomies (5%), and 2 double-barrel-colostomies. Over half of the hernias developed within two years after initial formation. Stoma relocation was performed in 8 patients, suture repair in 14 patients and mesh repair in 17 patients. Seven patients had recurrence of the hernia, and ten patients suffered from complications. Postoperative complications and recurrence were more frequent in stoma relocation than in suture repair and mesh repair. Emergency operations were performed in four patients (10.3%) with higher incidence of complications but not with increased risk of recurrence. Excluding emergency operations, complications of relocations were not higher than those of mesh repairs. Postoperative hospital stays were shortest in mesh repair patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, mesh repair showed low recurrence and a low complication rate with shorter hospital stay than relocation methods, though these differences were not statistically significant. Further studies, including randomized trials, are necessary if more reliable data on the surgical treatment of parastomal hernias are to be obtained.

Effect of Electronic Toilet System (Bidet) on Anorectal Pressure in Normal Healthy Volunteers: Influence of Different Types of Water Stream and Temperature

Although bidets are widely used in Korea, its effects on anorectal pressures have not been studied in detail in terms of the water settings used. Twenty healthy volunteers were placed on a toilet equipped with a bidet, and anorectal pressures were measured with a manometry catheter inserted into the rectum and anal canal before and after using the bidet at different water forces (40, 80, 160, 200 mN), temperatures (24degrees C vs 38degrees C), and water jet widths (narrow vs wide). The pressure at anal high pressure zone decreased from 96.1 +/- 22.5 to 81.9 +/- 23.3 mmHg at water jet pressure of 40 mN and 38degrees C wide water jet (P < 0.001), from 94.3 +/- 22.4 to 80.0 +/- 24.1 mmHg at water jet pressure of 80 mN and 38degrees C narrow water jet (P < 0.001), and from 92.3 +/- 22.4 to 79.6 +/- 24.7 mmHg at a water jet pressure of 80 mN and 38degrees C wide water jet (P < 0.001). At other settings, no significant changes were observed. Our results indicate that, in addition to cleansing effect, bidet could be used to reduce anal resting pressure in the same manner as the traditional warm sitz bath under the conditions of low or medium water jet pressure, a warm water temperature, and a wide type water jet.

Effect of Electronic Toilet System (Bidet) on Anorectal Pressure in Normal Healthy Volunteers: Influence of Different Types of Water Stream and Temperature

Although bidets are widely used in Korea, its effects on anorectal pressures have not been studied in detail in terms of the water settings used. Twenty healthy volunteers were placed on a toilet equipped with a bidet, and anorectal pressures were measured with a manometry catheter inserted into the rectum and anal canal before and after using the bidet at different water forces (40, 80, 160, 200 mN), temperatures (24degrees C vs 38degrees C), and water jet widths (narrow vs wide). The pressure at anal high pressure zone decreased from 96.1 +/- 22.5 to 81.9 +/- 23.3 mmHg at water jet pressure of 40 mN and 38degrees C wide water jet (P < 0.001), from 94.3 +/- 22.4 to 80.0 +/- 24.1 mmHg at water jet pressure of 80 mN and 38degrees C narrow water jet (P < 0.001), and from 92.3 +/- 22.4 to 79.6 +/- 24.7 mmHg at a water jet pressure of 80 mN and 38degrees C wide water jet (P < 0.001). At other settings, no significant changes were observed. Our results indicate that, in addition to cleansing effect, bidet could be used to reduce anal resting pressure in the same manner as the traditional warm sitz bath under the conditions of low or medium water jet pressure, a warm water temperature, and a wide type water jet.