Morphological characteristic of anal canal in patients with dyssynergic defecation and its correlation with anorectal manometry / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the diagnostic value of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-EAUS) for dyssynergic defecation (DD).@*Methods@#A case-control study was performed to retrospectively collectclinical data of 46 DD patients, including 16 males and 30 females with median age of 51 (20 to 70) years, at Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine from February 2012 to April 2015.All the patients met the diagnostic criteria of functional constipation of Rome III. The paradoxical contraction of puborectalis (PR) muscle was found by both rectal examination and anorectal manometry. In the same period,45 healthy volunteers, including 22 males and 23 females with median age of 48 (21 to 72) years, without pelvic operation history, and with normal defecation in recent 6 months, were enrolled as the control group. No significant differences were observed in age and gender between two groups (both P>0.05). Cleveland constipation score of DD group was higher than that of control group [15(8-24) vs. 5(1-9), t=15.720, P<0.001]. 3D-EAUS examination was performed in all the subjects. Thickness and length of internal anal sphincter (IAS) (anterior side and posterior side), thickness of PR muscle, length of external anal sphincter (EAS) plus PR muscle, and puborectalis angle were measured and compared by using student t test between two groups. Correlation between these ultrasound parameters and anorectal manometry was examined by Pearson correlation analysis.@*Results@#Both male and female in the DD group had the greater thickness of IAS, as compared to those in the control group [male: (1.7±0.5) mm vs.(1.5±0.2) mm, t=2.516, P=0.016; female: (1.9±0.4) mm vs.(1.6±0.5) mm, t=2.034,P=0.047]. No significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to the posterior length of IAS, length of EAS plus PR muscle, and thickness of PR muscle (all P>0.05). Compared to the control group, male in the DD group had smaller puborectalis angle during straining [(87.0±3.6)° vs. (90.5±1.8)°,t=3.502,P=0.002];female in the DD group had smaller puborectalis angle both in resting and straining [resting:(86.5±3.8)° vs. (90.1±2.1)°,t=4.047, P<0.001;straining: (84.1±4.5)° vs. (90.2±2.3)°, t=5.938, P<0.001]. Correlation analysis showed that anterior length of IAS was positively correlated with anal resting pressure (r=0.321, P=0.030); the length of EAS plus PR muscle was positively correlated with anal squeeze pressure (r=0.415, P=0.004). There were no correlations between the thickness and the posterior length of IAS and the anal resting pressure, or between the thickness of PR muscle and the anal squeeze pressure (all P>0.05).@*Conclusions@#The 3D-EAUS can accurately assess the morphological features of anal canal in DD patients. There is a certain positive correlation between 3D-EAUS and anorectal manometry.

Nerves and fasciae in and around the paracolpium or paravaginal tissue: an immunohistochemical study using elderly donated cadavers / 대한해부학회지

The paracolpium or paravaginal tissue is surrounded by the vaginal wall, the pubocervical fascia and the rectovaginal septum (Denonvilliers' fascia). To clarify the configuration of nerves and fasciae in and around the paracolpium, we examined histological sections of 10 elderly cadavers. The paracolpium contained the distal part of the pelvic autonomic nerve plexus and its branches: the cavernous nerve, the nerves to the urethra and the nerves to the internal anal sphincter (NIAS). The NIAS ran postero-inferiorly along the superior fascia of the levator ani muscle to reach the longitudinal muscle layer of the rectum. In two nulliparous and one multiparous women, the pubocervical fascia and the rectovaginal septum were distinct and connected with the superior fascia of the levator at the tendinous arch of the pelvic fasciae. In these three cadavers, the pelvic plexus and its distal branches were distributed almost evenly in the paracolpium and sandwiched by the pubocervical and Denonvilliers' fasciae. By contrast, in five multiparous women, these nerves were divided into the anterosuperior group (bladder detrusor nerves) and the postero-inferior group (NIAS, cavernous and urethral nerves) by the well-developed venous plexus in combination with the fragmented or unclear fasciae. Although the small number of specimens was a major limitation of this study, we hypothesized that, in combination with destruction of the basic fascial architecture due to vaginal delivery and aging, the pelvic plexus is likely to change from a sheet-like configuration to several bundles.

Clinical Significance of the Pecten Band in Hemorrhoids

PURPOSE: The pecten band can be defined as a fibrous tissue on the lowermost part of internal anal sphincter and may cause anal outlet obstruction, but its role is debatable. We evaluated the functional roles of the pecten band in hemorrhoids patients. METHODS: Three hundred sixteen hemorrhoids patients who underwent operations from January 1998 to April 2003 were analyzed for anal function according to presence or absence of a pecten band by using anorectal manometry and the constipation score. RESULTS: The numbers of males and females were 167 and 149. The overall pecten band positive was 63.6% (201/316), and pecten band positive was 84.6% (33/39) in patients who had previous anal surgery while it was 60.6% (168/277) in patients who had no history of surgery (P= 0.002). Pure hemorrhoids patients showed an 18.3% positive rate while patients with hemorrhoids and other conditions, such as anal fissure, fistula, or stricture, showed a 95.7% positive rate (P=0.00). Maximal resting anal pressures (mmHg, Mean+/-SD) and constipation score were 78.9+/-24.7 and 7.88+/-3.8 in the positive group and 67.1+/-22.2 and 4.55+/-2.8 in the negative group (P=0.00, 0.00). Postoperatively, the constipation score decreased significantly from 7.25 to 2.82 (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The pecten band seems to be associated with anal outlet obstruction, and a pecten band releasing operation may be considered according to its presence or absence.

Transanal Coloanal Pull-through with Resection of the Internal Anal Sphincter for Hirschsprung's Disease: Report of 101 Cases / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of transanal coloanal pull-through with resection of the internal anal sphincter in neonates and infants with Hirschsprung's disease.Methods Transanal coloanal pull-through with resection of the internal anal sphincter was performed on 101 neonates or infants with Hirschsprung's disease in our hospital.An incision slightly longer than one-half of the rectal circumference was made at the dentate line.Then,the muscular layer of the anterior rectal wall was dissected and separated upwards from the submucosal layer;meanwhile that of the posterior wall was also separated upwards along the rectal longitudinal muscles.After the muscular layer was separated to the level of the peritoneal reflection,a radial operation was performed by resecting the internal anal sphincter and muscle sheath of the posterior rectal wall.Results The operation was accomplished successfully in all the patients with less than 10 ml of intraoperative blood loss.The operation time ranged from 45 to 190 min(mean,90 min).No complications,including urine retention,incision infection,and anastomotic stenosis,occurred.Two patients(2/86,2.3%) developed enterocolitis after the operation.The incidence of fecal soiling was 27%(22/82) at 2 months after the operation,and then decreased to 4%(3/82) at 6 months.Anorectal manometry was performed on 78 patients at 1,2,3,and 6 months postoperatively.The results demonstrated that the anal resting pressure after the operation was significantly lower than that before the operation(P

The Effect of Intraoperative Anal Sphincter Injection of Ketorolac Tromethamine for Pain Control after Hemorrhoidectomy

PURPOSE: An adequate pain control is one of important factors for obtaining good outcomes in the ambulatory basis of hemorrhoidectomy. There have been many methods for pain control after hemorrhoidectomy such as narcotics, various kinds of analgesics, etc. The aim of this study is to compare intraoperative internal anal sphincter injection of Ketorolac tromethamine and other two conventional methods for pain control. METHODS: A total of 56 patients with hemorrhoid grade III or IV underwent surgery between May and October 1999, and prospectively assigned to three groups in the consecutive order. The group was divided in Group 1: [Ketorolac tromethamine (Tarasyn) 60 mg intrasphincteric injection intraoperatively and 30 mg IM/prn?10 mg po/6hrs], Group 2: [No intraoperative injection and maintain pain control with Tarasyn 30 mg IM/prn/10 mg po/6hrs], and Group 3: [No intraoperative injection and maintain pain control with Pethidine (Demerol) 50 mg IM/prn and Ibuprofen 400 mg/Paracetamol 500 mg/Codeine 20 mg (Myprodol) po/8hrs]. The post operative data and pain scoring was performed on the questionnaire with Point box scale (BS-11) and Behavioral rating scale (BRS-6) each 24 hours during 5 days after surgery. RESULTS: There are 22 patients in the Group 1, 16 in the Group 2 and 18 patients in the Group 3. The median age of the Group 1 is 42.5, Group 2, 44.5 and Group 3, 45 years. The pain score on the first day after surgery in group 1 was significantly lower than group 2 (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative internal anal sphincter injection of Ketorolac tromethamine shows a better pain control than conventional methods in early postoperative period. Therefore it might be helpful for patients to go home on the day after surgery, and strong pain killer to control pain after discharge will be needed.

Anal Endosonographic Findings of Internal Anal Sphincter in Normal Adult Korean

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and average thickness of the internal anal sphincter with anal endosonography in healthy Korean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 184 subjects(male: 96, female: 88) with no history of anorectal disease or surgery were studied with anal endosonography. The average thickness of internal sphincter was meas ured at the mid-anal canal. For the internal sphincter, which is often asymmetric, the thickness of each 4 part(12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction) were measured in left lateral decubitus position. RESULTS: The anal wall was well visualized in 5 layers(mucosa, submucosa, internal anal sphincter, intersphincteric plane, external anal sphincter) with anal endosonography. The anal endosonogram showed the internal anal sphincter as a homogenous, well-defined, hypoechoic, circular band, and slightly asymmetric. The average thickness of the internal anal sphincter in the area of mid-anal portion was 2.0 0.3 mm(range: 1~3 mm). There was no sexual difference; however, a significant positive correlation with age was found in average thickness of the internal anal sphincter. The correlation with lean body mass was not found. CONCLUSION: The internal anal sphincter is well-visualized, best defined structure by anal endosonography. Average thickeness of the sphincter in Korean appeared to be the same as in the Western.