Subject(s)
Abscess/physiopathology , Anal Canal/anatomy & histology , Intestinal Fistula/physiopathology , Rectal Diseases/microbiology , Abscess/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/physiopathology , Humans , Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis , Rectal Diseases/complications , Rectal Diseases/surgerySubject(s)
Intussusception , Irritable Bowel Syndrome , Rectal Prolapse , Ataxia , Defecation , Humans , Pelvic FloorSubject(s)
Digestive System Surgical Procedures , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Rectal Fistula , Clinical Competence , Colorectal Surgery/education , Colorectal Surgery/methods , Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Digestive System Surgical Procedures/methods , Humans , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Rectal Fistula/physiopathology , Rectal Fistula/surgeryABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Sphincter-preserving surgery is technically feasible for many rectal cancers, but functional results are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to evaluate bowel function after sphincter-preserving surgery. METHODS: A 41-item bowel function survey was developed from a literature review, expert opinions, and 59 patient interviews. An additional 184 patients who underwent sphincter-preserving surgery between 1997 and 2001 were asked to complete the survey and quality-of-life instruments (Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ 30/Colorectal Cancer 38). A factor analysis of variance was performed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated, with 20 patients completing two surveys within a mean of 11 days. Validity testing was done with clinical variables (gender, age, radiation, length of time from surgery), surgical variables (procedure: local excision, low anterior resection, coloanal anastomosis), reconstruction (J-pouch, straight), anastomosis (handsewn, stapled), and quality-of-life instruments. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 70.1 percent (129/184). Among the 127 patients with usable data, 67 percent were male, the median age was 64 (range, 38-87) years, and the mean time for restoration of bowel continuity after sphincter-preserving surgery was 22.9 months. Patients had a median of 3.5 stools/day (range, 0-30), and 37 percent were dissatisfied with their bowel function. Patients experienced a median of 22 symptoms (range, 7-32), with 27 percent reported as severe, 37 percent as moderate, and 36 percent as mild. The five most common symptoms were incomplete evacuation (96.8 percent), clustering (94.4 percent), food affecting frequency (93.2 percent), unformed stool (92.8 percent), and gas incontinence (91.8 percent). The factor analysis identified 14 items that collapsed into three subscales: FREQUENCY (alpha = 0.75), DIETARY (alpha = 0.78), and SOILAGE (alpha = 0.79), with acceptable test-retest reliability for the three subscales and total score (0.62-0.87). The instrument detected differences between patients with preoperative radiation (n = 67) vs. postoperative radiation (n = 15) vs. no radiation (n = 45) (P = 0.02); local excision (n = 10) vs. low anterior resection (n = 55) vs. coloanal anastomosis (n = 62) (P = 0.002); and handsewn (n = 18) vs. stapled anastomosis (n = 99) (P = 0.006). The total score correlated with 4 of 4 Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (P < 0.01) and 9 of 17 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer subscales (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer have impaired bowel function, and those treated with radiation, coloanal anastomoses, or handsewn anastomoses have significantly worse function. This reliable and valid instrument should be used to prospectively evaluate bowel function after sphincter-preserving surgery in patients undergoing rectal cancer therapy.
Subject(s)
Fecal Incontinence/physiopathology , Postoperative Complications/physiopathology , Quality of Life , Rectal Neoplasms/physiopathology , Rectal Neoplasms/surgery , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Combined Modality Therapy , Defecation/physiology , Fecal Incontinence/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects , Rectal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Reproducibility of Results , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal dose and dosing interval of nitroglycerin ointment to heal chronic anal fissures. METHOD: A randomized, double-blind study of intra-anally applied nitroglycerin ointment (Anogesic) was conducted in 17 centers in 304 patients with chronic anal fissures. The patients were randomly assigned to one of eight treatment regimens (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 percent nitroglycerin ointment applied twice or three times per day), for up to eight weeks. A dose-measuring device standardized the delivery of 374 mg ointment. Healing of fissures (complete reepithelialization) was assessed by physical examination using an observer unaware of treatment allocation. The subjects assessed pain intensity daily by completing a diary containing a visual analog scale for average pain intensity for the day, the worst pain intensity for the day, and pain intensity at the last defecation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in fissure healing among any of the treatment groups; all groups, including placebo had a healing rate of approximately 50 percent. This rate of placebo response was inexplicably higher than previously reported in the literature. Treatment with 0.4 percent (1.5 mg) nitroglycerin ointment was associated with a significant (P < 0.0002) decrease in average pain intensity compared with vehicle as assessed by patients with a visual analog scale. The decreases were observed by Day 4 of treatment. At 8 weeks the magnitude of the difference between 0.4 percent nitroglycerin and control was a 21 percent reduction in average pain. Treatment was well tolerated, with only 3.29 percent of patients discontinuing treatment because of headache. Headaches were the primary adverse event and were dose related. CONCLUSION: Nitroglycerin ointment did not alter healing but significantly and rapidly reduced the pain associated with chronic anal fissures.
