Obstructive defaecation

AIM: Defaecating proctogram (DP) studies have become an integral part of the evaluation of patients with pelvic floor disorders. However, their impact on treatment decision-making remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance of decision-making by colorectal surgeons and the role of the DP in this process. METHOD: Four colorectal surgeons were presented with online surveys containing the complete history, examination and investigations of 106 de-identified pelvic floor patients who had received one of three treatment options: physiotherapy only, anterior Delorme's procedure or anterior mesh rectopexy...

AIM: The aim of this work was to determine the range of normal imaging features during total pelvic floor ultrasound (TPFUS) (transperineal, transvaginal, endovaginal and endoanal) and defaecation MRI (dMRI). METHOD: Twenty asymptomatic female volunteers (mean age 36.5 years) were prospectively investigated with dMRI and TPFUS. Subjects were screened with symptom questionnaires (ICIQ-B, St Mark's faecal incontinence score, obstructed defaecation syndrome score, ICIQ-V, BSAQ)...

PURPOSE: Determine predictors of success for transvaginal rectocoele repair (TVRR). Primary aim is to establish predictors of successful treatment analysing patients' characteristics, baseline symptoms, pelvic floor test results and pre-operative conservative treatment. METHODS: Retrospective single institution study in a tertiary referral centre for pelvic floor disorders. 207 patients underwent TVRR for symptomatic rectocoele. Information about symptoms related to obstructive defaecation, anal incontinence and vaginal prolapse, results of pelvic floor investigations, multimodality conservative management and variation in surgical technique have been recorded...

Most bowel endometriotic lesions are ill-defined serosal and subserosal nodules, and no case of cystic bowel endometriosis has been reported in the literature. This is the first report of an unexpected presentation of bowel endometriosis as a primary cyst located inside the posterior rectal wall. The patient was a 26-year-old nulliparous woman with progressive lower abdominal pain for 6 days and difficult defecation for 1 day. Colorectal surgeons recommended bowel resection owing to the giant rectal mass. However, the patient refused to undergo surgery...

Background: Bowel dysfunction following treatment of pelvic organ cancer is prevalent and impacts the quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effects of treating bowel dysfunction in two nurse-led late sequelae clinics. Material and methods: Treatment effects were monitored prospectively by patient-reported outcome measures collected at baseline and discharge. Change in bowel function was evaluated by 15 bowel symptoms, the St. Mark's Incontinence Score, the Patients Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score and self-rated bowel function...

BACKGROUND: Rectal intussusception is often observed in patients with faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation. The aim of this study is to assess if pelvic floor training improves faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation in patients with rectal intussusception. METHODS: Case notes of all patients referred to Bankstown Hospital Pelvic Floor Clinic between 2013 and 2018 for the management of faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation and rectal intussusception were retrospectively reviewed using a prospectively maintained database...

Mechanistic understanding of anorectal (patho)physiology is missing to improve the medical care of patients suffering from defaecation disorders. Our objective is to show that complex fluid dynamics modelling of video defaecography may open new perspectives in the diagnosis of defaecation disorders. Based on standard X-ray video defaecographies, we developed a bi-dimensional patient-specific simulation of the expulsion of soft materials, the faeces, by the rectum. The model quantified velocity, pressure and stress fields during the defaecation of a neostool with soft stool-like rheology for patients showing normal and pathological defaecatory function...

AIM: To assess the relationship between pelvic pain and rectal prolapse both before prolapse surgery and long-term after ventral mesh rectopexy (VMR). METHODS: Patients undergoing VMR between 2004 and 2017 were contacted. Outcomes including pelvic pain severity were recorded using Numeric Rating Scale. RESULTS: 478 out of 749 patients (64%) who were successfully contacted, 39% reported pre-existing pelvic pain prior to VMR (Group A) and 61% denied it (Group B)...

Obstructed Defecation Syndrome (ODS) is a rather complex entity concerning mainly females and causing primarily constipation. Surgical treatment in the form of Ventral Prosthesis Rectopexy (VPR) has been proposed and seems to have the best outcomes. However, the selection criteria of patients to undergo this kind of operation are not clear and the reported outcomes are mainly short-term and data on long-term outcomes is scarce. This study assesses new evidence on the efficacy of VPR for the treatment of ODS, specifically focusing on inclusion criteria for surgery and the long-term outcomes...

BACKGROUND: Obstructed defaecation syndrome (ODS) is difficulty in evacuating stools, requiring straining efforts at defaecation, having the sensation of incomplete evacuation, or the need to manually assist defaecation. This is due to a physical blockage of the faecal stream during defaecation attempts, caused by rectocele, enterocele, intussusception, anismus or pelvic floor descent. Evacuation proctography (EP) is the most common imaging technique for diagnosis of posterior pelvic floor disorders...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

AIM: Anterior rectocele is usually an asymptomatic condition in many women, yet it can be associated with obstructed defaecation syndrome (ODS). Transperineal repair of rectocele (TPR) has been followed by variable rates of improvement in ODS. The present pilot randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the outcome of TPR with vertical plication (VP) of the rectovaginal septum compared to horizontal plication (HP). METHODS: Adult women with anterior rectocele were recruited to the study and were randomly allocated to one of two equal groups...

The most appropriate method for repairing posterior vaginal wall prolapse is still debatable. Women with symptomatic prolapse scheduled to undergo surgical repair in the posterior compartment were randomised to standard posterior colporrhaphy (SPC) or fascial and vaginal epithelial plication (FEP). Participants were assessed with the Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QOL) questionnaire, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) examination and three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) prior to surgery and 6 months postoperatively...

Introduction - In adults, protrusion of intussuscepted sigmoid growth through the anal canal is exceedingly rare, with only 9 cases being reported till date. Case Report - A 52-year old man presented to emergency department with what appeared to be an episode of rectal prolapse following straining while defaecating. On examination, he had a prolapsed 8 × 8 cm bowel, with a 2 × 2 cm friable villous growth as the lead point, with space between the mass and the perianal skin. Computed Tomography of the abdomen was done which was suggestive of telescoping of the sigmoid into the rectum protruding out through the anal canal with features of intestinal obstruction...

AIM: The recto-anal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) is currently measured using manometry catheters, which potentially distort the anal canal. Anal acoustic reflectometry (AAR) is considered to be a catheter-free technique and primarily measures the function of the internal anal sphincter. We sought to determine if RAIR could be measured using AAR. METHOD: Patients aged 18 and over attending the hospital for investigation of pelvic floor dysfunction were included. AAR parameters were obtained before (prerectal distension) and after (postrectal distension) inflation of a rectal balloon catheter with 100 ml of air...

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic megacolon (IMC) is an uncommon disease in adults. To date, only a few laparoscopic experiences and functional outcomes of IMC have been reported. This study was to retrospectively analyse our 12 year surgical experience and functional outcomes in adult patients with IMC. METHODS: A 12-year retrospective study from October 2006 to November 2018 was performed for patients with IMC who underwent surgical interventions. Patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted colectomy and Duhamel procedure with ileorectal or colorectal anastomosis were collected...

BACKGROUND: Transanal hybrid rectal and colon resection have been introduced in recent years at dedicated surgical centers. The anus is used as a natural orifice for large size access. The use of transanal hybrid colectomy techniques is still in its infancy with outcomes and unique complications being identified. The purpose of this work is the evaluation of outcomes for transanal hybrid colon resections (ta-CR), including intra operative and postoperative complications, results, and advantages...

BACKGROUND: Several studies have explored functional outcomes after rectal cancer surgery, but bowel dysfunction after sigmoid resection for cancer has hardly been considered. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and pattern of bowel dysfunction after resection for sigmoid cancer, and the impact of bowel function on quality of life (QoL) by comparison with patients who had polypectomy for cancer. METHODS: This was a national cross-sectional study...

The aim of this paper was to consider the available evidence for the current management of pelvic organ prolapse, which is a common presentation in primary care. However, not all women will present, only presenting when symptoms become bothersome. Particular attention was paid to understanding the problem of rectocele and its influence on obstructive defaecation symptoms. The burden of rectocele and its consequences are not truly known. Furthermore, healthcare professionals may not always enquire about bowel symptoms and patients may not disclose them...

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic test accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) and four-dimensional (4D) transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) for diagnosis of posterior pelvic floor disorders in women with obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), in order to assess if 4D ultrasound imaging provides additional value. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 121 consecutive women with ODS. Symptoms of ODS and pelvic organ prolapse on clinical examination were assessed using validated methods...