The acute management of haemorrhoids.

INTRODUCTION: Although the acute thrombosis and strangulation of haemorrhoids is a common condition, there is no consensus as to its most effective treatment. METHODS: A PubMed search was undertaken for papers describing the aetiology and treatment of the acute complications of haemorrhoids. RESULTS: The anatomy and treatments for strangulated internal haemorrhoids and thrombosed perianal varices are discussed. Studies of the effectiveness and complications of conservative and operative treatments are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Ambiguities exist in the terminology used to describe the two separate pathologies that make up the acute complications of haemorrhoids. These complications have traditionally been treated conservatively. There is evidence that early operative intervention for strangulated internal haemorrhoids is safe and effective. A suggested algorithm for treatment is given, based on the published literature.

Faecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Faecal incontinence is a life style-limiting condition with multiple aetiologies. Surgical cure is not often possible. METHODS AND RESULTS: A review of the literature was undertaken using Medline, Cochrane database and standard textbooks. Advanced imaging techniques now inform the treatment algorithm and objectively assess success. The long-term outcome of anal surgery is uncertain. Modern approaches favour conservative measures, such as biofeedback, and less invasive surgical procedures. Stoma formation is a definitive option for some patients. CONCLUSION: Current treatment of faecal incontinence is evolving from a sphincter-focused view to a more holistic one, recognizing the influence of the pelvic floor and psyche in maintaining continence. Modern imaging modalities direct treatment strategies.

The surgical management of haemorrhoids--a review.

A number of new surgical treatments have led to a reappraisal of haemorrhoid disease over the last few decades. Despite a range of treatment modalities, the options are limited in their effectiveness and can lead to a number of complications. An inadequate classification system based on appearance rather than symptoms makes the choice of appropriate therapy difficult. More recent techniques have led to a move away from surgical excision. However, further research is required to establish their precise indications and long-term efficacy.

Long-term outcome following loose-seton technique for external sphincter preservation in complex anal fistula.

BACKGROUND: This study determined the long-term outcome after use of the loose-seton technique (LST) to eradicate complex fistula in ano. METHODS: Twenty patients whose complex fistula in ano was treated by the LST a minimum of 10 years previously were assessed by case-note review, supplemented where necessary by mailed and telephone interview. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had a trans-sphincteric and two a suprasphincteric fistula. There were seven supralevator and 12 ischiorectal secondary extensions. At short-term follow-up, a median of 6 months following seton removal, perianal sepsis had been eradicated in 13 of 20 patients. However, the long-term success rate of the LST was lower than that noted in the short term (four versus 13 of 20). Sixteen patients had persisting or recurrent sepsis, necessitating further surgery in 13. In the long term, external sphincter division was necessary to control sepsis in seven of the 20 patients compared with three of 20 patients at short-term follow-up. The rate of relapse in those with Crohn's disease and cryptoglandular fistula in ano was similar (five of six versus 11 of 14; P = 1.000). The fistula recurred in seven, 11 and 15 patients at 6, 15 and 60 months respectively after seton removal. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the LST for complex fistula in ano falls over time. Counselling before seton removal should emphasize that, although most patients do not require sphincter division and some are cured by this technique, many patients develop further sepsis that usually requires surgery.

Potential clinical implications of direction of a trans-sphincteric anal fistula track.

BACKGROUND: The longitudinal direction of a trans-sphincteric anal fistula track through the anal sphincter complex may have implications regarding fistulotomy. METHODS: The angle of the track of trans-sphincteric fistulas relative to the longitudinal axis of the anal canal was measured before operation by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 46 patients. This was compared with the findings at operation. RESULTS: The track passed cranially as well as laterally at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees ) in 23 patients while it passed either transversely or caudally at an obtuse angle (90 degrees or more) in the remaining 23. The internal opening was significantly higher in relation to the dentate line (above in eight patients, at the dentate line in 14 and below in one patient) when the track was acute than when it was obtuse (above in one, at the dentate line in 17 and below in five patients) (P = 0.004). The fistula track crossed the sphincter at a median angle of 35 degrees, 95 degrees and 132 degrees from internal openings sited above, at and below dentate line level respectively (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Fistula tracks passed cranially and laterally through the sphincter complex in half of these patients, and were most acutely angled on MRI when internal openings were situated above the dentate line. Preoperative MRI might alert surgeons to the potential hazard of fistulotomy being more extensive than anticipated from simple palpation of the level of the internal opening.

Salvage surgery after restorative proctocolectomy.

BACKGROUND AND METHOD: Restorative proctocolectomy is now the elective surgical procedure of choice for most patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. Complications may lead to failure, defined as removal of the reservoir with establishment of a permanent ileostomy or long-term diversion. Failure may be avoided for some patients by salvage surgery. The causes of failure are identified in this article and the procedures adopted to treat them are defined; a review of the literature was carried out to determine the effectiveness of the procedures. RESULTS: Failure after restorative proctocolectomy results from complications, which may occur indefinitely during follow-up to a cumulative rate of about 15 per cent at 10-15 years. Sepsis accounts for over 50 per cent of these complications. Abdominal salvage procedures are successful in 20 to over 80 per cent of patients but the rate of salvage is dependent on the duration of follow-up, which might explain this variance. Local procedures are successful in 50-60 per cent of patients with pouch-vaginal fistula. Poor function accounts for about 30 per cent of failures. Abdominal salvage for outlet obstruction and low pouch capacitance results in satisfactory or acceptable function in up to 70 per cent of patients. There is no effective surgical salvage for pouchitis. CONCLUSION: Salvage surgery must be discussed carefully with the patient, who should be made aware of the possible complications and the prospect of success, which is less than that in the general population of patients undergoing ileoanal pouch surgery.

Magnetic resonance imaging for primary fistula in ano.

BACKGROUND: This was a prospective study designed to determine the therapeutic impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in primary fistula in ano, and to assess its effect on outcome. METHODS: Thirty patients with suspected primary fistula in ano underwent preoperative MRI, and the findings were revealed during surgery following examination under anaesthesia (EUA). Any effect on operative approach was noted. Outcome was assessed at a median of 12 months. RESULTS: Two patients had sinuses, one had no sepsis and 27 had fistulas: five superficial, seven intersphincteric, 14 trans-sphincteric and one suprasphincteric. MRI and EUA agreed in 15 patients and MRI findings altered the surgical approach in a further three (10 per cent); two of the latter patients were believed to have a sinus at EUA, which MRI correctly identified as a fistula, allowing definitive treatment. The therapeutic impact of MRI was therefore 10 per cent. Persisting disagreement between MRI and EUA in 12 patients mostly related to minor discrepancies in classification. Only one patient required further unplanned surgery, which was for skin-bridging rather than any new sepsis. CONCLUSION: In experienced hands, MRI has a therapeutic impact of 10 per cent for primary fistula in ano, precipitating surgery that is likely to reduce recurrence in a small, but important, proportion of patients.

A randomized, controlled trial of diathermy hemorrhoidectomy vs. stapled hemorrhoidectomy in an intended day-care setting with longer-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: Hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective long-term treatment for hemorrhoids. Although it is possible to perform hemorrhoidectomy as a day case with a high degree of patient satisfaction, patients take an average of 14 days off work after surgery. Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is believed to be less painful than conventional hemorrhoidectomy and should allow an earlier return to work. The aim of this study was to compare both the immediate and the long-term results of stapled hemorrhoidectomy with diathermy hemorrhoidectomy in patients with prolapsing internal hemorrhoids in an intended day-care setting. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to undergo diathermy hemorrhoidectomy (n = 16) or stapled hemorrhoidectomy performed with a purpose-designed endoluminal stapling device, PPH01T (n = 15). All operations were planned as day or short-stay cases. All patients received lactulose, commenced preoperatively, together with postoperative topical glyceryl trinitrate and oral metronidazole. Patients were assessed by structured interview to assess their symptoms before and after surgery, with an intended follow-up of six months. All patients completed a 10-cm visual analog pain scale daily for the first ten days after surgery. RESULTS: The total pain score (sum of all pain scores) was significantly higher in the diathermy group (50 (range, 9.8-79.9) vs. 19.6 (range, 1.3-89.5), P = 0.03). Patients took a median of 14 (range, 3-21) days off work after diathermy hemorrhoidectomy compared with 10 (range, 3-38) days for the patients undergoing stapled hemorrhoidectomy (P = 0.15). At long-term follow-up, three patients (all in the stapled group) developed new symptoms of fecal urgency and anal pain, and three patients required further surgery to remove symptomatic external hemorrhoids after stapled hemorrhoidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Although stapled hemorrhoidectomy is less painful in the short term, this does not lead to a significantly earlier return to work, and some patients develop new symptoms at long-term follow-up.

Mortality, morbidity and functional outcome after ileorectal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Total colectomy with an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) is a commonly performed operation. Postoperative mortality and morbidity are reported to be low and functional outcome is generally rated as good to excellent. The aim of this study was to review postoperative mortality, morbidity and functional results in an effort to identify risk factors predictive of a poor outcome. METHODS: Some 215 patients (118 women and 97 men) with a median age of 33 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 25-47) years underwent an IRA between November 1990 and December 1999. Median follow-up was 2 years 9 months (i.q.r. 1-5 years). The clinical notes of these patients were reviewed retrospectively to analyse the postoperative course, bowel function and long-term clinical outcome. RESULTS: The indications for surgery included familial adenomatous polyposis (52.1 per cent), Crohn's disease (14.4 per cent), functional bowel disorder (14.4 per cent), ulcerative colitis (8.4 per cent) and colonic carcinoma (4.7 per cent). The overall 30-day mortality and morbidity rates were 0.9 and 26.0 per cent respectively. This included anastomotic leak (6.5 per cent), small bowel obstruction (14.4 per cent), fistula (2.8 per cent) and anastomotic stricture (1.4 per cent). The incidence of fistula and anastomotic stricture was significantly higher in Crohn's disease (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005 respectively). Only 16 of 31 patients with Crohn's disease had a functioning IRA at long-term follow-up. Median stool frequency was 3 (i.q.r. 3-5) per day one year following surgery and did not change with longer follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mortality and morbidity rates following IRA are low. Postoperative fistula and anastomotic stricture are more common in patients with Crohn's disease, approximately half of whom will eventually need a permanent ileostomy. Long-term bowel function for all groups is satisfactory.

A prospective audit of fistula-in-ano at St. Mark's hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a prospective audit of all patients presenting with anal fistula at St. Mark's Hospital during one calendar year and to compare the presentation and outcome of this cohort with previous reports from this institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing examination under anaesthetic (EUA) for anal fistula during 1997 were studied. All fistulae were anatomically classified and operative procedures recorded. During a mean follow-up period of 14 months details of healing, recurrence and function were gathered. RESULTS: 98 patients with a mean age of 43.7 years were assessed. 86 (88%) patients had fistulae of cryptoglandular (idiopathic) origin. Fistulae were superficial in 11 (11%) patients, intersphincteric in 30 (31%) patients, trans-sphincteric in 52 (53%) patients, suprasphincteric in 3 (3%) patients and extra-sphincteric in 2 (2%) patients. 49 (50%) fistulae were classified as complex. Eradication of fistulae with preservation of function was achieved in 89 (91%) patients. Fistula recurrence occurred in 4 (4%) cases. Ten (10%) patients had some degree of incontinence, 9 (9%) of whom had undergone previous fistula surgery. Nine (9%) patients still had setons in situ at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: A greater proportion of difficult fistulae was seen during the year compared with previous studies from St. Mark's. Despite this a satisfactory outcome was achieved in the vast majority with a relatively low rate of disturbed function. Previous fistula surgery is a risk factor for incontinence, which can usually be managed conservatively.