Is there a precise correlation between the lengths of the peritoneal reflection and the middle rectal valve?

Introduction: Pelvic anatomy remains a challenge, and thorough knowledge of its intricate landmarks has major clinical and surgical implications in several medical specialties. The peritoneal reflection is an important landmark in intraluminal surgery, rectal trauma, impalement, and rectal adenocarcinoma. Objectives: To investigate the correlation between the lengths of the middle rectal valve and of the peritoneal reflection determined with rigid sigmoidoscopy and to determine whether there are any differences in the location of the peritoneal reflection between the genders and in relation to body mass index (BMI) and parity. Design: We prospectively investigated the location of the middle rectal valve and of the peritoneal reflection via intraoperative rigid sigmoidoscopy in colorectal cancer patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Results: We evaluated 38 patients with a mean age of 55.5 years old (57.5% males) who underwent colorectal surgery at the coloproctology service of the Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. There was substantial agreement between the lengths of the middle rectal valve and of the peritoneal reflection (Kappa = 0.66). In addition, the peritoneal reflection was significantly lower in overweight patients (p = 0.013 for women and p < 0.005 for men) and in women with > 2 vaginal deliveries (p = 0.009), but there was no significant difference in the length of the peritoneal reflection between genders (p = 0.32). Conclusion: There was substantial agreement between the lengths of the peritoneal reflection and of the middle rectal valve, and the peritoneal reflection was significantly lower in overweight patients and in women with more than two vaginal deliveries. (AU)

The importance of the therapeutic care plan in colorectal surgery in a teaching hospital

Introduction: A therapeutic plan is elaborated based on the health needs of each user, allowing a multidisciplinary team to assess diagnoses, treatment options, bonds, and optimal hospitalization time. Objectives: To identify risk management tools already used and implemented in a reference teaching hospital in the city of São Paulo and to analyze their application and risk factors in medium and large colorectal surgery. Method: Observational, longitudinal, and prospective study, with 30 patients with colorectal disease hospitalized in the surgical ward of the coloproctology service and in need of surgical treatment. In the first group, the protocol was applied with the knowledge of the researcher only, and, in the second group, with the knowledge of both the researcher and the attending physicians. Results: Sixty percent of the patients were female with a mean age of 60.93 years and body mass index (BMI) of 26.07 Kg/m2. After surgery, patients in the first group who did not receive venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in the first 24 hours had an increased risk of having the event compared with those who returned to prophylaxis (p<0.005), thus suggesting this prophylaxis was a protective factor against thromboembolic event (p=0.006). This group also had a higher risk of hypoglycemia when no strict control was performed (p=0.041). Conclusion: The compliance to hospital protocols with applicationmonitoring, notedly in teaching places with annual admission of resident physicians, is a fundamental part of the adequate care of the patient combined with the implementation of therapeutic plans. (AU)

There is an agreement between constipation referred and that documented by objective criteria? / Existe concordância entre constipação referida e constatada por critérios objetivos?

Abstract Introduction Chronic constipation is the most common digestive complaint at the doctor's office, with high prevalence in the population. However, many patients - and even those physicians not so familiar with pelvic floor disorders-define and consider constipation based on intestinal functionality and stool consistency. But symptoms of incomplete defecation, digital maneuvers, abdominal discomfort, and straining should not be overlooked. Objectives To investigate the correlation between constipation referred and documented through objective criteria in patients admitted on a daytime-nursing ward basis at the Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo. Methodology This is a prospective study of a random sample of patients admitted on a daytime-ward hospitalization basis at Santa Marcelina Hospital to perform minor surgical procedures not related to functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in the period from September 2014 to June 2015; the only exclusion criterion was "not agreed to participate in the interview conducted by students of medicine at Santa Marcelina Medical School". Results 102 patients were randomly analyzed in the period considered (51% female) with a mean overall age of 48.6 (19-82) years. Constipation has been reported spontaneously by 17.6% of participants and denied by 82.4%. With the implementation of the Cleveland Clinic's criteria for the diagnosis of constipation, the compliance with the referred symptomatology was 88.9%; the same value was found with the use of the Rome III criteria (Kappa = 0.665). In addition, a higher incidence of constipation was observed in female patients (p = 0.002). Conclusion A higher incidence of constipation was observed in female participants, with no statistical difference with respect to age. Furthermore, a substantial agreement was found between constipation referred and constipation documented through objective criteria.

Resumo Introdução A constipação intestinal crônica representa a queixa digestiva mais comum no consultório com elevada prevalência na população. No entanto, frequentemente, os pacientes e mesmo os médicos, não tão afeitos com os distúrbios do assoalho pélvico, definem e consideram constipação baseados na funcionalidade intestinal e consistência das fezes. Entretanto, os sintomas de defecação incompleta, manobras digitais, desconforto abdominal e esforço evacuatório não devem ser negligenciados. Objetivos Verificar a correlação entre constipação intestinal referida e constatada através de critérios objetivos em pacientes internados em regime de enfermaria dia no Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo. Metodologia Estudo prospectivo de amostra aleatória de pacientes internados em enfermaria dia do Hospital Santa Marcelina para realização de cirurgias de pequeno porte e não relacionadas a distúrbios funcionais de trato gastrintestinal no período entre setembro de 2014 e junho de 2015, cujo único critério de exclusão foi o não consentimento em participar da entrevista realizada pelos alunos do curso de medicina da Faculdade Santa Marcelina. Resultados Foram analisados de forma aleatória 102 pacientes no período sendo 51% do sexo feminino e média de idade global de 48,6 anos (19-82 anos). A constipação foi referida de forma espontânea em 17,6% e negada em 82,4%. Ao se utilizar o critério da Cleveland Clinic para constatar constipação houve uma concordância com o sintoma referido fora de 88,9%, com mesmo valor ao se utilizar os critérios de Roma III (Kappa = 0,665). Além disso, verificou-se maior incidência de constipação intestinal nos pacientes do sexo feminino (p = 0,002). Conclusão Verificou-se maior incidência de constipação no sexo feminino sem diferença estatística baseado na idade. Além disso, constatou-se concordância substancial entre a constipação referida e a documentada através de critérios objetivos.