Quality of life in permanent ostomates - what really matters to them?

PURPOSE: The impact of a permanent stoma, such as post-abdominoperineal resection (APR), on quality of life (QoL) is well-documented. While stoma-related QoL tools exist, their relationship with stoma satisfaction is unclear. This study aimed to identify which aspects of QoL were most associated with stoma satisfaction. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of consecutive patients who had an APR for rectal cancer at an Australian tertiary hospital (2012-2021), identified from a prospectively maintained database, was conducted. The Stoma-QoL questionnaire was used. Overall patient satisfaction with stoma function, and whether healthcare advice was sought for stoma dysfunction, were explored. Linear regression assessed the association between individual issues examined in the Stoma-QoL questionnaire and overall patient satisfaction with stoma function. RESULTS: Overall, 64 patients (62.5% male, mean 68.1 years) participated. Stoma-QoL score was associated with stoma satisfaction (P < 0.05). QoL items impacting satisfaction were: needing to know nearest toilet location (P = 0.04), pouch smell concerns (P = 0.008), needing daytime rest (P = 0.02), clothing limitations (P = 0.02), sexual attractiveness concerns (P < 0.05), embarrassment (P < 0.05), difficulty hiding the pouch (P = 0.02), concerns about being burdensome (P = 0.04) and difficulty with interpersonal interaction (P = 0.03). Only 11 (17.2%) patients sought healthcare advice for stoma dysfunction. CONCLUSION: While stoma-specific QoL is associated with stoma satisfaction, individual QoL aspects impact differently on satisfaction in permanent colostomy patients. These findings may help identify focus areas for peri-operative counselling for clinicians and stomal therapists, highlight the importance of tailored multidisciplinary care in ostomates and suggests that a stoma type-specific Stoma-QoL questionnaire is required.

Avoiding controversy: Considerations for point-of-view nursing simulations.

Point-of-view simulations involve participants engaging in simulation to experience what it might be like to live with a health condition or disability. These types of simulations have been used frequently in nurse education as a valuable pedagogical tool, as research has shown that student engagement with point-of-view simulations increases student empathy. However, point-of-view simulations have also been problematised by disability community members and scholars researching in the disability space, as ableist and culturally unsafe. This manuscript explores recommendations for, and criticisms of, point-of-view simulations and offers considerations to address these concerns.

Postpartum anal incontinence in women with and without obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Postpartum anal incontinence is common and distressing for women. We sought to look at the prevalence of anal incontinence in women who sustained obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) compared with women who did not, and factors leading to these symptoms during the postpartum period. METHODS: A total of 129 primiparous women sustaining OASI were compared with 131 women who did not (controls). They were contacted at approximately 6-10 weeks postpartum to obtain information on their symptoms of anal incontinence (AI). The data underwent univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in the prevalence of AI symptoms, occurring in 30% of women with OASI, and 23% of women without at 6-10 weeks postpartum; however, in women with high-grade tears the prevalence was 59%. Severe OASI (grade 3c and 4) was associated with an increased prevalence of both AI and severe AI, whereas forceps delivery and increasing maternal age were associated with an increased prevalence of severe AI only. CONCLUSION: Women with less severe (grade 3a and 3b) OASI do not experience a higher prevalence of AI than women without OASI in the postpartum period. Higher grade (3c and 4) tears, forceps delivery and increasing maternal age are associated with higher rates of AI. These factors should be avoided where possible to reduce postpartum AI. All women should be warned of the 23-30% chance of experiencing some mild AI in this period. Whether these symptoms are transient or long-lasting requires further investigation.

The relationship between residual sphincter damage after primary repair, faecal incontinence, and anal sphincter function in primiparous women with an obstetric anal sphincter injury.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Anal sphincter injury has been identified as a primary cause of post-partum fecal incontinence in women with obstetric anal sphincter injury. However, women without obstetric anal sphincter injury may also develop fecal incontinence. The aim is to determine the relationship between fecal incontinence severity; and i) residual anal sphincter injury, quantified by the Starck score, and ii) anal sphincter tone. METHODS: Consecutive case series of prospectively collected data set in a Pelvic Floor Unit within a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia. Population 181 primiparous women with Sultan classification Grade 3 and 4 sphincter injuries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sultan classification, anal manometry, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, St Mark's fecal incontinence score, and Starck ultrasound score. RESULTS: 45% of women reported some degree of fecal incontinence. One third of women with normal external sphincter tone were incontinent. Those with higher Starck score had higher St Mark's scores. A higher Sultan classification correlated with more severe incontinence regardless if the repair was complete. Forceps delivery had a twofold risk of incontinence when compared to non-forceps delivery. CONCLUSION: The importance of an effective anal sphincter repair is confirmed. However, overall there is no direct relationship between residual sphincter damage, anal sphincter tone, and fecal incontinence severity. These data indicate that anal sphincter integrity alone is not the sole mechanism for maintaining fecal continence. Rectal and colonic motor function may also play a role and investigation into these components may provide greater insight into the effect of vaginal delivery upon fecal continence mechanisms.

A prospective "bottom up" study of the costs of faecal incontinence in ambulatory patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The few studies that have examined direct costs of faecal incontinence are limited in that they employed retrospective databases, postal surveys, and focused upon institutionalised patients or post partum women. The aim of the current study was to identify the direct pre-treatment costs of faecal incontinence expended by a range of home dwelling patients and identify relationships between costs and severity of incontinence. METHODS: Consecutive patients attending an outpatient clinic for treatment of faecal incontinence were interviewed using a questionnaire, modeled on the Dowel Bryant Incontinence Cost Index. The information collected included costs of: (i) basic personal hygiene: pads, laundry, wipes, cleansers; (ii) medication: loperamide, creams and stool bulking agents; and (iii) diagnostic: medical attendance, anorectal physiology, colonoscopy. Costs were broken down into personal expenses, government costs, and costs to health funds. A St Mark's Faecal Incontinence Severity Score was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 100 consecutive patients consented (15 males, 85 females) mean age 70.8 (SD12) years. Mean St Mark's score was 12 (SD4.5). The median total patient cost was $437.72 AUD (range 0-2807) per annum. Government costs were $537AUD (range 135-1657), and health fund median $0 AUD (0-1628). Incontinence severity correlated with personal expense only median $283.75AUD (range 0-2350). The aged were more incontinent but costs did not increase in relation to age. CONCLUSION: Faecal incontinence results in a substantial financial burden for both patients and Government. Effective treatments which relieve the financial burden of faecal incontinence, are likely to be economically advantageous into the future for both patients and Government.

Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: medium-term follow-up from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) are either single-centre with small numbers of patients or multi-centre studies. We present the medium-term follow-up results from a single centre for 127 patients undergoing SNS. METHODS: Consecutive patients treated with SNS for faecal incontinence had preoperative baseline St Mark's continence scores, faecal incontinence quality of life (FIQL) measures and anorectal physiology studies. Follow-up was a postal questionnaire concerning continence, FIQL, patient-perceived change in bowel control (-5 to +5 where 0 is no change), overall satisfaction (0-10 visual analogue scale) and use of medications. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients underwent temporary nerve stimulation testing, of which 112 progressed to a permanent implantable pulse generator (IPG). Fifteen received an IPG without the testing phase, hence 127 patients in total. Fourteen had the IPG removed, four were deceased, leaving 109 for assessment; 91 (83%) responded to the survey. Mean follow-up was 2.7 years (range: 2 months-8.5 years). Mean baseline St Mark's continence score was 14.4, and mean follow-up score was 10.3 (P < 0.01). FIQL improved in all domains (P < 0.001). Patient-reported improved bowel control mean score was +3.2 (95% CI: 2.9, 3.55). Median satisfaction score was 8.0 (range: 0-10). Complications included 17 lead dislodgements, seven superficial infections, five infections requiring surgery and five repositioning of a rotated IPG. Thirty-two patients used loperamide and 34 used fibre supplements. CONCLUSION: In this observational study, limited by the absence of a placebo control group, SNS significantly improved continence and quality of life, and patient satisfaction was high.

Sacral Nerve Stimulation Fails to Offer Long-term Benefit in Patients With Slow-Transit Constipation.

BACKGROUND: Sacral nerve stimulation is proposed as a treatment for slow-transit constipation. However, in our randomized controlled trial we found no therapeutic benefit over sham stimulation. These patients have now been followed-up over a long-term period. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation in patients with scintigraphically confirmed slow-transit constipation. DESIGN: This study was designed for long-term follow-up of patients after completion of a randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: It was conducted at an academic tertiary public hospital in Sydney. PATIENTS: Adults with slow-transit constipation were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At the 1- and 2-year postrandomized controlled trial, the primary treatment outcome measure was the proportion of patients who reported a feeling of complete evacuation on >2 days per week for ≥2 of 3 weeks during stool diary assessment. Secondary outcome was demonstration of improved colonic transit at 1 year. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients entered long-term follow-up, and 1 patient died. Patient dissatisfaction or serious adverse events resulted in 44 patients withdrawing from the study because of treatment failure by the end of the second year. At 1 and 2 years, 10 (OR = 18.8% (95% CI, 8.3% to 29.3%)) and 3 patients (OR = 5.7% (95% CI, -0.5% to 11.9%)) met the primary outcome measure. Colonic isotope retention at 72 hours did not differ between baseline (OR = 75.6% (95% CI, 65.7%-85.6%)) and 1-year follow-up (OR = 61.7% (95% CI, 47.8%-75.6%)). LIMITATIONS: This study only assessed patients with slow-transit constipation. CONCLUSIONS: In these patients with slow-transit constipation, sacral nerve stimulation was not an effective treatment.

Long-term results of the cutting seton for high anal fistula.

BACKGROUND: No single procedure for high anal fistula delivers a high cure rate while also completely protecting sphincter function. This paper reports our long-term results with the cutting seton for high fistulae and draws comparisons with advancement flap and ligation of intersphincteric fistula track (LIFT) procedures. METHODS: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data in consecutive patients undergoing treatment with cutting seton for high cryptoglandular fistulae was carried out. A strict protocol dictated tightening intervals of at least 4 weeks and no muscle division. In 59 patients (male : female = 39:20) followed-up at mean 9.4 years (range 1.7-15.6 years) healing rates, continence (St Mark's score 0-24), patient-perceived overall change in bowel control (-5 to +5), faecal incontinence quality of life (FIQL) and overall patient satisfaction (visual analogue score 0-10) were assessed. RESULTS: Primary and secondary healing rates were 93% and 98%. Mean continence score was 4.1, significantly worse in women than men (median 6, range 0-22 versus median 1, range 0-17; P = 0.006). Seventy-eight per cent of patients had normal continence or minor incontinence (score 0-6), 13.5% moderate incontinence (score 7-12) and 8.5% severe incontinence (score >12). Sixty-three per cent of patients had no change or improved patient-perceived overall bowel control. Mean FIQL scores were high and significantly correlated with continence. Median satisfaction score was 9. CONCLUSION: Cutting seton for high anal fistula achieved healing in 98% with good continence in the majority, particularly in males, and a high level of patient satisfaction. Multicentre prospective studies are needed to adequately compare cutting seton, flap and LIFT procedures.

Treatment efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation in slow transit constipation: a two-phase, double-blind randomized controlled crossover study.

OBJECTIVES: Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is a potential treatment for constipation refractory to standard therapies. However, there have been no randomized controlled studies examining its efficacy. In patients with slow transit constipation, we evaluated the efficacy of suprasensory and subsensory SNS compared with sham, in a prospective, 18-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-phase crossover study. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients who, on more than 2 days/week for at least 2 of 3 weeks, reported a bowel movement associated with a feeling of complete evacuation. METHODS: After 3 weeks of temporary peripheral nerve evaluation (PNE), all patients had permanent implantation and were randomized to subsensory/sham (3 weeks each) and then re-randomized to suprasensory/sham (3 weeks each) with a 2-week washout period between each arm. Daily stool dairies were kept, and quality of life (QoL; SF36) was measured at the end of each arm. RESULTS: Between November 2006 and March 2012, 234 constipated patients were assessed, of whom 59 were willing and deemed eligible to participate (4 male; median age 42 years). Of the 59 patients, 16 (28%) responded to PNE. Fifty-five patients went on to permanent SNS implantation. The proportion of patients satisfying the primary outcome measure did not differ between suprasensory (30%) and sham (21%) stimulations, nor between subsensory (25%) and sham (25%) stimulations. There were no significant changes in QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with refractory slow transit constipation, SNS did not improve the frequency of complete bowel movements over the 3-week active period.

Clinical outcome and efficacy of antegrade colonic enemas administered via an indwelling cecostomy catheter in adults with defecatory disorders.

BACKGROUND: Antegrade colonic enemas are used in selected adult patients with defecatory disorders. Conduit stenosis requiring revisional surgery is common. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether stenosis could be avoided by using an indwelling antegrade continence enema catheter in an appendiceal or cecal conduit, and to describe medium-term clinical outcomes. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective case series. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia. PATIENTS: Adults administering antegrade colonic enemas to manage defecatory disorders were selected for the study. METHODS: Patients with an indwelling antegrade continence enema catheter completed a face-to-face survey when they attended the clinic for catheter change. A postal survey was sent to nonattenders, and, if it was not returned, the patient was contacted, and the survey was completed by telephone. The survey asked about irrigation techniques, satisfaction, confidence to manage, and continence, using quantitative scores. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (45 female; mean age, 49 years) had constipation (n = 31), incontinence (n = 6), both incontinence and constipation (n = 2) or obstructed defecation due to gracilis neosphincter (n = 5), congenital anomalies (n = 8), or spinal injuries (n = 2). Thirty-five patients (65%) continued to irrigate for a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 4 months to 13.7 years). Mean enema volume was 1178 mL (95% CI, 998-1357; range, 350-2000 mL), and half the patients added a stimulant to the irrigation. Mean total toileting time was 59 minutes (95% CI, 48-66; range, 15-120 minutes). Twenty-one patients had incontinence between irrigations, and in 17% incontinence was severe (St. Mark score >12). Satisfaction (visual analogue scale = 8.1) and confidence to partake in social activities (visual analogue scale = 8.2) and all-day activities (visual analogue scale = 7.1) were high. Complications included superficial wound infection (n = 15), wound infection requiring surgery (n = 6), paraconduit hernia (n = 2), and indwelling antegrade continence enema catheter dislodgement (n = 33). There was no conduit track stenosis. LIMITATIONS: The study is a medium-term retrospective case series using patient-reported outcomes and clinical records without a control group. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of the indwelling antegrade continence enema catheter, appendicostomy and cecostomy stenosis requiring revisional surgery was avoided. Antegrade colonic irrigation failed in about one-third of cases; in the 65% who continued to irrigate, satisfactory functional outcome was achieved.

Risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injuries and postpartum anal and urinary incontinence: a case-control trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) cause serious maternal morbidity for mothers. A clearer understanding of aetiological factors is needed. We aimed to determine the risk factors for OASIS . METHODS: Birth details of 222 primiparous women sustaining OASIS were compared with 174 women who did not sustain OASIS (controls) to determine the relevant risk factors. The data underwent univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Asian or Indian ethnicity, operative vaginal birth (p = 0.00), persistent occipito-posterior position (p = 0.038) and rapid uncontrolled delivery of the head were identified as risk factors for OASIS. Pushing time, use of epidural, episiotomy and head circumference were not predictors of OASIS. CONCLUSIONS: Women with Asian or Indian ethnicity, operative vaginal birth, persistent occipito-posterior position and rapid uncontrolled delivery of the fetal head were likely to sustain OASIS. Awareness of these factors may help to minimise the incidence of OASIS.

An optical fiber Bragg grating force sensor for monitoring sub-bandage pressure during compression therapy.

Graduated compression bandaging of the lower limbs is the primary therapy for venous leg ulcers with its efficacy believed to be predominantly dependent on the amount and the distribution of the compressive pressure applied. There has been on-going demand for an ideal sensor to facilitate in-vivo monitoring of the sub-bandage pressure. Several methods and devices have been reported but each has its limitations, such as bulkiness, low tolerance to movement, susceptible to thermal noise and single point sensing. An optical fiber force sensor is demonstrated, consisting of two arrays of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) entwined in a double helix form and packaged with contact-force sensitivity. This sensor array has inherent temperature immunity and is capable of real-time, distributed sensing of sub-bandage pressure. The calibration results of the sensor array, as well as the validation human trial results, are presented.