Wide resection and reconstruction preserving fecal continence in recurrent anal cancer

PURPOSE: A new operation was developed to treat patients with local recurrence of cancer at the anal margin after radiotherapy. This operation aims at resection of the tumor with oncologically safe margins, preservation of fecal continence, and reliable wound healing. METHODS: After intensive radiotherapy, three patients with local recurrences of squamous-cell carcinoma of the anus refused to undergo abdominoperineal resection. These patients were treated by wide local excision and primary reconstruction. Wide local excision included perianal skin with subcutis and the anal canal including the internal sphincter up to the dentate line. To reconstruct the anus, the rectum was mobilized and brought down to the level of the perineum through the external sphincter and anastomosed to bilateral biceps femoris myocutaneous flaps. RESULTS: In the first three patients no tumor recurrences have occurred, and fecal continence has been good. CONCLUSION: The first results with this continence-preserving operation in patients with recurrent anal margin cancers after radiotherapy have been encouraging.     

Intersphincteric resection with excision of internal anal sphincter for conservative treatment of very low rectal cancer

PURPOSE: Standard surgical treatment for low rectal cancer situated below 5 cm from the anal verge or at less than 1 cm from the anal ring is abdominoperineal resection. This is because of the necessity both to achieve a sufficient distal margin and to preserve the whole of the anal sphincter. The aim of this study was to evaluate morbidity, oncologic, and functional results of intersphincteric resection with excision of the internal anal sphincter and low coloanal anastomosis for carcinomas of the anorectal junction. METHODS: From January 1990 to December 1996, 16 patients were studied prospectively. All patients had an infiltrating adenocarcinoma (5 T2 and 11 T3), located between 2.5 and 4.5 (mean, 3.6) cm from the anal verge. Rectal resection with a minimum distal margin of 2 (mean, 2.4) cm was performed in all cases; six patients underwent partial resection of the internal sphincter, and ten patients had a subtotal resection. A colonic J-pouch was associated with coloanal anastomoses in eight cases. Twelve patients had preoperative radiotherapy, 3 with concomitant chemotherapy; 5 patients had postoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. Morbidity occurred in four patients, of whom two underwent permanent colostomy after pelvic hemorrhage or anovaginal fistula. After a median follow-up of 44 (range, 11-92) months, no local recurrence was observed, and two patients died of distal metastases. The five-year actuarial survival rate was 75 percent. Continence was normal in one-half of patients and was altered in the other patients who suffered from occasional minor leaks. The median resting pressure was lower after subtotal than after partial resection of the internal sphincter (40 vs. 70 cm H2O; P = 0.02), but functional results were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that intersphincteric resection can be an alternative to abdominoperineal resection for selected rectal tumors situated at the anorectal junction, without compromising chance of cure. Functional results and continence were not altered by subtotal resection of the internal anal sphincter.     

Colonic Motility in Children with Repaired Imperforate Anus

Following surgical correction of imperforateanus, voluntary bowel control is frequently poor becauseof abnormal anorectal function. Using colonic manometrywe investigated the role of colonic motility in the pathogenesis of fecal soiling inchildren following imperforate anus repair. Thirteenchildren with repaired imperforate anus and fecalsoiling underwent motility testing 2-12 years afteranoplasty. All had fecal incontinence unresponsive toconventional medical treatment. Colonic manometry wasperformed using water-perfused catheters. Anorectalmanometry was undertaken in 10 patients. Motility study results, treatment and outcomes were compared.All patients had high-amplitude propagating contractions(HAPCs) with an average of 80% propagation into theneorectum. There was no correlation between HAPC number or morphology and any variable. Internalanal sphincter resting pressure was low in 6/10patients. Relaxation of the internal anal sphincter waspresent in 6/10 children. Only 1 of 5 patients able to cooperate was capable of generating a normalmaximal squeeze pressure. Therapeutic regimens werechanged in 11 patients with clinical improvement infive. Fecal soiling in patients with repairedimperforate anus is a multifactorial problem includingpropagation of excessive numbers of HAPCs into theneorectum as well as internal anal sphincterdysfunction. Colonic manometry in conjunction withanorectal manometry aids in the understanding of thepathophysiology of fecal soiling and guides clinicalmanagement in children with repaired imperforateanus.     

内括约肌切除术在低位直肠癌保肛中的应用

直肠癌是我国最常见的消化道恶性肿瘤之一,且以中低位多见,对于距肛门低于5 cm的低位直肠癌,过去常规行腹会阴联合切除术（APR）,不仅手术创伤大,而且永久性造口也为患者生理和心理带来极大的痛苦。近年来随着对直肠癌特点的深入认识、术前新辅助治疗的开展及手术器械和术者技术的发展,在肿瘤根治的前提下,吻合口的位置也不断地向更低的位置挑战,功能保护和改善术后生活质量已成为低位直肠癌治疗的重要目标。内括约肌切除术（ISR）为低位直肠癌患者带来了更多保肛的机会,并且其根治效果及肛门功能皆令人满意。本文将对ISR的研究现状及进展、肿瘤学和功能预后等作一综述。     

Results of salvage abdominoperineal resection for anal cancer after radiotherapy

PURPOSE: Nonsurgical treatment of anal cancer by radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy is the standard therapy for epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal. Surgery is only recommended for treatment failures. Very few studies have been devoted to the outcome of this salvage surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate these results. METHODS: A retrospective review from 1986 to 1995 revealed 21 patients with residual or recurrent anal canal carcinoma after initial radiotherapy, operated on by abdominoperineal resection. Patients were reviewed as to age, gender, initial treatment, any symptoms of recurrence, duration until recurrence, any diagnosis imaging, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: None of these 21 patients had known lymph node involvement or metastases at radiotherapy or at salvage abdominoperineal resection. Eleven patients had residual disease (positive biopsy less than 6 months after the end of radiotherapy) and 10 had tumor recurrence (more than 6 months after cessation of treatment). Recurrence occurred at a mean of 15 (range, 9–41) months after radiotherapy. All 21 patients underwent an abdominoperineal resection. Pathologic examination of the 21 specimens showed complete excision in all cases except one and lymph node metastases in two cases. There was no perioperative mortality. The mean follow-up after surgery was 40 months; no patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 21 patients, 10 died and 11 lived, of whom 9 are disease free. The overall survival rate at three years after salvage abdominoperineal resection was 58 percent. The overall survival rate for patients with residual disease (vs. recurrence) at three years was 72 percent (vs. 29 percent) and at five years was 60 percent (vs. 0 percent;P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Salvage abdominoperineal resection for anal cancer can be expected to yield a number of survivors from residual disease, but the low rate of survival after abdominoperineal resection for recurrent disease suggests the need for additional postoperative treatment if salvage abdominoperineal resection is performed.     

Local recurrence after curative anterior resection with principally blunt dissection for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of local pelvic recurrence of carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid (tumors where the lower edge is 18 cm or less from the anal verge) in a consecutive series of patients operated on by a single surgeon. All patients underwent curative anterior resection and a formal anatomic dissection of the rectum where mobilization was achieved through a principally careful blunt manual technique along fascial planes, preserving an oncologic package. METHOD: During the period April 1986 to December 1997, 157 consecutive anterior resections for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid were performed by one surgeon (ALP). One hundred thirty-eight (87.9 percent) were curative, and 19 (12.1 percent) were palliative. The mean follow-up period was 46±31.6 (range, 2–140) months. Data were retrospectively collated and computer coded by an independent contracted medical research team. Follow-up data were available on all patients. RESULTS: Four (3.1 percent) of the 131 patients undergoing curative anterior resection had local recurrence. Local recurrences occurred between 16 and 38 months from the time of resection, and the cumulative risk of developing local recurrence at five years was 5.2 percent. All tumors in which pelvic recurrence occurred were high grade, and the probability of developing local recurrence at five years for this group was 13.9 percent, which is significantly higher compared with patients who had average or low-grade tumors (P=0.01). The probability of developing local recurrence at five years for Stage I tumors was 0, Stage II was 5.9 percent, and Stage III was 8.9 percent. In addition, there was a significantly higher incidence of local recurrence in the group of patients undergoing ultralow anterior resection (between 3 and 6 cm from the anal verge) as compared with patients undergoing low or high anterior resection (P=0.03). Local recurrence developed in 3 of 28 (10.7 percent) patients having ultralow anterior resection, 1 of 57 (1.8 percent) patients having low anterior resection (between 6 and 10 cm from the anal verge), and no patients having high anterior resection (above 10 cm from the anal verge). The clinical anastomotic leak rate for curative anterior resection was 7 of 131 patients (5.3 percent). Thirty-seven of the 131 (28.2 percent) required a proximal defunctioning stoma; 35 (41.2 percent) of these were established for low or ultralow anterior resections and 2 for high anterior resection. The overall five-year cancer-specific survival rate of the entire group of 131 patients was 81.8 percent, and the overall probability of being disease free at five years including both local and distal recurrence was 72.9 percent. Three local recurrences occurred in the 101 patients (77 percent) who did not receive any form of adjuvant therapy. One local recurrence occurred in the 18 patients (13.7 percent) who had adjuvant chemoradiation. No recurrence occurred in the 12 patients (9.2 percent) who had adjuvant chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Curative anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid with principally blunt dissection of the rectum in this study is associated with a 3.1 percent incidence and a 5.2 percent probability at five years of developing local recurrence. Evidence from this study indicates that, as with sharp pelvic dissection, a low incidence and probability of local recurrence can be achieved by a principally blunt mobilization technique through careful attention to preservation of fascial planes in the pelvis and removal of an oncologic package with selective rather than routine adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemoradiation.Supported by a research grant from the Cabrini Clinical Education and Research Foundation.Read at The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' 100th Anniversary and Tripartite Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 1 to 6, 1999.     

Endosonographic evidence of injury to the internal anal sphincter after low anterior resection

PURPOSE: Transanal stapled anastomosis has been associated with continence disturbances and reduced postoperative anal sphincter function. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of transanal stapling on anal sphincter morphology by endoanal ultrasound. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients undergoing stapled low anterior resection for rectal carcinoma were assessed. Each patient was assessed by endoluminal ultrasound before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: There were no preoperative internal and sphincter defects observed. Three female patients were observed to have preoperative evidence of external anal sphincter defects. After low anterior resection, seven patients were found to have internal anal sphincter defects, which persisted after the two-year follow-up. There were no additional external anal sphincter injuries. Three patients with internal anal sphincter injuries required the use of pads for poor bowel function. CONCLUSIONS: Up to 18 percent of patients who underwent stapled low anterior resection had long-term evidence of internal anal sphincter injury. The external sphincter does not appear to be affected by the procedure.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Seattle, Washington, June 9 to 14, 1996.     

Role of manometry, defecography and anal endosonography in the evaluation of colorectal disorders.

OBJECTIVE: altered motility or anatomy of the rectum, anus and perineal floor may lead to symptoms which are unresponsive to routine therapeutic approaches. These disturbances usually lead to constipation, fecal incontinence, or both. Different tests and techniques for evaluating anorectal and perineal disorders, developed in the last two decades, make a better understanding of these disorders possible. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic benefits of combining manometry, defecography and anal endosonography in the assessment of patients with anorectal disorders. METHODS: twenty-five children with constipation (with or without soiling), incontinence and/or prolapse underwent anal manometry, defecography and anal endosonography. Group A consisted of 9 children with fecal incontinence, group B consisted of 10 children with constipation with soiling, and group C comprised 6 children with constipation without soiling. RESULTS: in group A resting incontinence was associated with a hypotonic external sphincter in 4 out of 9 patients, 2 of whom had internal anal sphincter thinning. In group B resting incontinence was associated with a hypotonic external sphincter in 8 out of 10 patients, 6 of whom had internal anal sphincter thinning. In group C these associations were not seen in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: barium enema is not sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of anorectal disorders. No single test is capable of revealing the type of disease. Anal manometry, defecography and endosonography are complementary procedures in the assessment of this group of disorders. This new approach will improve our knowledge of the pathogenesis of these disorders in children. However, further studies are needed to obtain conclusive evidence.     

Studies on anal canal sensitivity in patients with or without soiling after low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Anal canal sensitivity is conducted by the sensory branch of the pudendal nerve. To clarify the significance of the anal canal sensitivity function in patients with soiling after low anterior resection (LAR) for lower rectal cancer, we studied the threshold of anal canal sensitivity using an anal canal sensitivity test (ACST). MATERIALS: Subjects were 23 patients, 15 men and 8 women aged 47-69 years with a mean age of 63.3 yr, divided into patients with soiling (n = 10) and patients without soiling (n = 13), compared with control subjects (n = 20; 12 men and 8 women aged 40-65 yr with a mean age of 55.6 yr). These subjects had undergone LAR at least 12-13 months(mean 12.8 months) previously, and had no preoperative or postoperative complications. METHODS: Anal canal sensitivity was measured using an ACST. Measurement points of the anal canal were divided into 2 sites: the portion just on the dentate line (DL) and the portion 1 cm below the DL. A small electric current from a constant current generator was passed between the electrodes until the patients felt a sensation often described as tingling or pulsing. The threshold of sensitivity was assessed in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the anal canal. RESULTS: In control subjects, recording at the DL site showed the best results. Anal canal sensitivity in patients with soiling was significantly lower than in patients without soiling at both sites (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences at the site 1 cm below the DL among patients with soiling and patients without soiling. Patients with soiling showed the worst results in anal canal sensitivity at the DL. CONCLUSION: The ACST shows significantly lower sensitivity in the anal canal site of DL in patients with soiling after LAR. These findings suggest that soiling after LAR may be due to damage to the pudendal sensory nerves.     

Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision of low rectal cancer with preservation of anal sphincter： A report of 82 cases

AIM: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) of low rectal cancer with preservation of anal sphincter. METHODS: From June 2001 to June 2003, 82 patients with low rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with preservation of anal sphincter. The lowest edge of tumors was below peritoneal reflection and 1.5-7 cm from the dentate line (1.5-5 cm in 48 cases, 5-7 cm in 34 cases). RESULTS: LTME with anal sphincter preservation was performed on 82 randomized patients with low rectal cancer, and 100 % sphincter preservation rate was achieved. There were 30 patients with laparoscopic low anterior resection (LLAR) at the level of the anastomosis below peritoneal reflection and 2 cm above from the dentate line; 27 patients with laparoscopic ultralow anterior resection (LULAR) at the level of anastomoses 2 cm below from the dentate line; and 25 patients with laparoscopic coloanal anastomoses (LCAA) at the level of the anastomoses at or below the dentate line. No defunctioning ileostomy was created in any case. The mean operating time was 120 minutes (ranged from 110-220 min), and the mean operative blood loss was 20 mL (ranged from 5-120 mL). Bowel function was restored and diet was resumed on day 1 or 2 after operation. The mean hospital stay was 8 days (ranged from 5-14). Postoperative analgesics were used in 45 patients. After surgery, 2 patients had urinary retention, one had anastomotic leakage, and another 2 patients had local recurrence one year later. No interoperative complication was observed. CONCLUSION: LTME with preservation of anal sphincter is a feasible, safe and minimally invasive technique with less postoperative pain and rapid recovery, and importantly, it has preserved the function of the sphincter.     

Total lateral sphincterotomy for anal fissure

Background and aims Initial experience with the posterior sphincterotomy for treating anal fissures was unsatisfactory, with a significant rate of recurrences and anal incontinence. This report describes the lateral approach to complete section of the internal sphincter.Patients and methods Between 1997 and 2001 we surgically treated 164 patients for anal fissure. Preoperative and postoperative anal manometries were recorded. Postoperative course and early and long-term results were recorded.Results No fissure failed to heal. Early complications included bleeding, hematoma, and pain. A transient, variable degree of incontinence occurred in 15 patients and persistent incontinence to flatus and soiling in 5. After total sphincterotomy no long-term complication was observed. Patient satisfaction was 96%.Conclusion Total subcutaneous, internal sphincterotomy is a safe, effective procedure for the treatment of chronic anal fissure.     

Colonic prolapse after intersphincteric resection for very low rectal cancer: a report of 12 cases

Background

There are no published data concerning management of patients with exteriorized colonic prolapse (CP) after intersphincteric rectal resection (ISR) and side-to-end coloanal manual anastomosis (CAA) for very low rectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to report our experience in 12 consecutive cases of CP following ISR with CAA.

Methods

From 2006 to 2014, all patients with very low rectal cancer who developed CP after ISR and CAA were reviewed. Demographic and surgical data, prolapse symptoms and treatment were recorded. Postoperative morbidity, functional outcomes and results after prolapse surgery were recorded.

Results

Twelve out of 143 patients (8 %) who underwent ISR with side-to-end CAA for low rectal cancer presented CP: 7/107 ISR (7 %) with partial resection of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) and 5/36 ISR (14 %) with subtotal or total resection of the IAS (NS). CP was diagnosed after a median of 6 months (range 2–72 months) after ISR. All patients with CP suffered from pain and fecal incontinence. Median Wexner fecal incontinence score before surgery was 16.5 (range 12–20). Three patients refused reoperation. Nine patients underwent transanal surgery with prolapse resection (including colonic stump and side-to-end anastomosis) and new end-to-end CAA (with posterior myorraphy in 4 cases). After a median follow-up of 30 months (range 8–87 months), 3/9 patients (33 %) had CP recurrence: One with very poor function was treated by abdominoperineal resection and definitive stoma. The 2 others were successfully reoperated on transanally. Median Wexner fecal incontinence score after CP surgery was 9 (range 0–20). No CP recurrence was noted for the 6 other patients, and function improved in all cases. Thus, at the end of follow-up, 8/9 patients (89 %) had no recurrence after surgery.

Conclusions

We believe surgery must be attempted in these patients who develop CP after ISR with CAA for very low rectal cancer in order to improve function and symptoms. A transanal approach with CP resection and new end-to-end anastomosis appeared to be safe and effective. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.

     

Prospective study of the extent of internal anal sphincter division during lateral sphincterotomy

PURPOSE: The aim of lateral internal anal sphincterotomy when treating anal fissure is to divide the distal one-third to one-half of the internal anal sphincter. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the extent of disruption to the internal anal sphincter following lateral anal internal sphincterotomy and also to establish the prevalence of symptoms of anal incontinence in these patients. METHODS: Fifteen patients with anal fissure (ten females and five males) had bowel symptoms assessed and anal endosonography performed preoperatively and two months after lateral internal anal sphincterotomy. RESULTS: Anal endosonography was normal preoperatively in all but two females who had anterior external sphincter defects (presumedly from previous obstetric trauma). Postoperatively, apart from one male in whom no defect could be identified, all had an internal anal sphincter defect corresponding to the site of lateral internal anal sphincterotomy. In nine of the ten females, the defect involved the full length of the internal anal sphincter, but in the other four males, the defect involved the distal internal anal sphincter only. All were continent preoperatively, but after lateral internal anal sphincterotomy, three females became incontinent to flatus (two of whom had a preoperative external sphincter defect). CONCLUSION: In contrast to lateral internal anal sphincterotomy in males, division of the internal anal sphincter in most females tends to be more extensive than intended. This is probably related to their shorter anal canal. In some females, lateral internal anal sphincterotomy may compromise sphincter function and precipitate anal incontinence, particularly in the presence of other sphincter defects. Care should be exercised especially in the presence of previous obstetric trauma, as internal anal sphincter division may further compromise sphincter function.     

Experimental internal anal sphincter replacement with demucosated colonic plication

Background: Selective re-creation of a new internal anal sphincter could be indicated when the natural one is irreversibly damaged or excised. Methods: In this preliminary experimental work, surgical techniques of internal anal sphincter replacement in pigs were investigated. After preoperative anorectal manometry, surgical procedure was done in two phases: abdominal, mobilization of the colon-rectum to the pelvic floor; and perianal, dissection of the anal canal from the external anal sphincter through the intersphincteric space. The fully mobilized anorectal segment, including the internal anal sphincter, was pulled down through the anus and resected. The distal colonic stump was then demucosated and two types of plications of the demucosated segment were accomplished, each type in three animals. The plicated segment was then returned into the anal canal, inside the external sphincter. Short-term follow-up with clinical and manometric evaluations was performed and, subsequently, histological analysis of the plicated segment, after the animals were sacrificied. Results: None of the animals became incontinent. Anal manometry identified a high-pressure zone and relaxation reflex in the new anal canal. Histologic studies showed hypertrophy of smooth muscle layers without degenerative changes. Conclusion: This study indicates that a plication of colonic smooth muscle wall can re-create a high-pressure zone in the anal canal after the internal anal sphincter has been excised. Received: 4 May 2002 / Accepted: 22 August 2002 Correspondence to M. Lorenzi     

Local Anesthesia of Upper Anal Canal for Multiple Rubber Band Ligation: Description of Technique and Preliminary Results

PURPOSE: Symptoms caused by hemorrhoids are worse during defecation because of relaxation of the anal canal causing prolapse. We reviewed our experience of multiple rubber band ligations in a relaxed state of the anal canal using local anesthesia. METHODS: Forty-five patients, the majority of whom had Grade 2 or 3 symptomatic hemorrhoids, who required treatment underwent four quadrant local anesthetic infiltration in the submucosa of the upper anal canal. We used 1.5 ml of 0.25 percent bupivacaine in 1:200,000 epinephrine, 5 mm above the dentate line. RESULTS: The exposure of the relaxed anal canal was excellent, allowing multiple introductions of the anoscope and application of multiple bands without discomfort. The average number of bands applied in a single session was 3.84 (range, 1-7). Forty-two percent of the patients had banding performed at four sites. Complications following the procedure were minimal. Forty-seven percent of patients reported pain, with an average pain score of 5.29 (range, 1-10). Forty-seven percent of patients did not experience any pain after the procedure. Seventy-three percent had relief of symptoms; 16 percent had symptomatic recurrences, one-half of them were successfully treated by repeat banding after local anesthetic; only one patient required surgical hemorrhoidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Local anesthesia of the upper anal canal results in full relaxation and maximal mucosal redundancy of the anal canal simulating the anus in a natural condition during defecation. This gives an excellent exposure of the anal canal, enabling an accurate and multiple applications of rubber bands without pain during and shortly after the procedure.     

Fistula-in-ano: A ten-year follow-up study of horseshoe-abscess fistula-in-ano

Summary A preliminary report in 1965⁴ described a conservative surgical procedure for the management of acute and chronic horseshoe anal fistulas. The operation has been used exclusively at the Ochsner Clinic for this problem since 1963. Forty-one patients were treated from 1963 to 1973. The paper reviews the pathology of acute and chronic horseshoe anal fistulas and describes the surgical procedure for both acute and chronic horseshoe abscess anal fistulas with accompanying illustrations. The excellent results with minimal deformity of the anus and anal canal are attributed to avoidance of severing the superficial external sphincter between its coccygeal origin and the anus. Of the 41 patients treated in the period from 1963 to 1973, healing was good, and there has been no recurrence.     

What affects continence after anterior resection of the rectum?

Functional results after anterior rectal resections are commonly considered satisfactory but variable percentages of postoperative incontinence are often reported. Continence was evaluated after 20 low anterior resections (LAR) and 13 high anterior resections (HAR) by means of clinical assessment, anorectal manometry, and evacuation proctography. Whereas all HAR patients had perfect continence, 10 patients (50 percent of the LAR group had occasional episodes of soiling from liquid feces, 5 patients (25 percent had frequent soiling or occasional incontinence for solid feces, and 1 patient (5 percent had frequent solid stool loss requiring surgical treatment. Anal canal resting pressure at 3 and 4 cm from the anal verge was significantly lower in the LAR group (P<0.02 and P<0.05, respectively) than in the HAR group. However, the maximum voluntary contraction did not differ between the two groups. Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was found to be present in 17 of the 20 patients with LAR and in all patients with HAR. The volume at which the anal sphincter is continuously inhibited was significantly reduced in the LAR group (P<0.001). Also, the conscious rectal sensibility volumes were found to be significantly reduced for threshold, constant, and maximum tolerated volume. Threshold volume for internal sphincter relaxation was lower than the threshold volume for rectal sensation in some patients with LAR. This could allow postoperative fecal soiling. Rectal compliance was decreased (P<0.001) in the LAR group. Evacuation proctography, performed in six LAR patients affected by major soiling or solid stool loss, revealed an abnormal obtuse anorectal angle and pathologic lowering of the perineum at rest and during defecation. The concomitance of internal anal sphincter impairment, reduction in rectal compliance, and previous pelvic floor muscle damage are postulated as cause affecting continence in patients who underwent LAR.Read at the Congress on Colo-Rectal Disease Milan, Italy, June 29–30, 1989.     

Laparoscopic anterior resection and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a prospective nonrandomized study

Background The purpose of this study was to present our experience of laparoscopic total mesorectal resection, including ultralow resection and coloanal anastomosis. Materials and methods Between 1993 and 2005, patients fit for general anesthesia, with resectable cancers, and with lower edge of tumor beyond 5 cm of the anal verge were subjected to laparoscopic anterior resection with sphincter preservation. Double stapling technique is used to establish bowel continuity. Results A total of 170 patients, 88 males and 82 females, were subjected to successful laparoscopic anterior resection, which included high anterior resection (n=90), low anterior resection (n=52), ultralow anterior resection (n=20), and coloanal anastomosis (n=8). The average age of patients was 58.4 years (12–90 years). Mean operating time was 130 min and mean hospital stay was 7 days. The morbidity was 13.5% with nil mortality. With an average follow-up of 49 months (range 9 years to 3 months), 9 patients developed local recurrence and 45 patients developed distant metastasis. Conclusion In selected cases, laparoscopic anterior resection is possible for all levels of rectal tumors, allowing sphincter preservation and maintaining oncological safety.     

Long-term prognosis after radical treatment for squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal and anal margin

Sixty-seven of 100 (67 percent) and 24 of 58 (41 percent) apparently radically treated patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal (AC) and the anal margin (AM) developed recurrent disease during a median observation time of ten years (range, 0 to 38 years). A significantly higher number of patients treated for AC tumors with local excision had recurrent disease compared with patients treated with abdominoperineal resection (P less than .05). Twenty patients with AC tumors had local recurrence, 21 regional recurrence, and 26 visceral metastases. Eighteen patients with AM tumors had local recurrence, five regional, and one brain metastases. The latest recurrences among AC and AM tumor patients were diagnosed 11 and nine years after primary treatment, respectively. The estimated cure rate by the actuarial method after 15 years was 26 percent and 53 percent for AC and AM tumors, respectively. Thus, if recurrent carcinomas of the anus are to be detected early, frequent life-long control examinations are necessary. It is obvious from this study that, in order to reduce recurrent disease of carcinoma of the anus, new treatment regimens must be tried under controlled circumstances. Surgical therapies alone are clearly insufficient in the treatment of carcinoma of the anus.     

Is manometry essential for surgery of chronic fissure-in-ano?

PURPOSE: Although many studies reported the association between high anal sphincter pressures and anal fissures, one question is open to date: is manometry really necessary for surgical management/does manometry influence the outcome? METHODS: Between October 1, 1990 and December 31, 1991, lateral sphincterotomy was performed in 177 patients with chronic anal fissure. In all patients the operation was performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthetic. Electromanometry of the anal canal was carried out preoperatively to demonstrate the raised resting pressure profile within the anal canal. At the same time the maximum squeezing pressure was determined by electromanometry, and electromyography was performed to detect dysfunction of the external sphincter or the levators. The control group consisted of 14 proctologically healthy patients with a resting pressure of 74.4±8.9 and a maximum squeezing pressure of 130.2±15 (cm H₂O). On the basis of resting pressures determined in healthy patients, an upper limit of 90 was defined as normal, taking into account the standard deviation and standard error rate. For statistical comparison patients were divided into two groups, retrospectively. All patients in Group A had a resting pressure of ≤90, and all patients in Group B had a resting pressure of >90. Six weeks after operation electromanometry was again performed to determine the resting pressure profile and maximum squeezing pressure of the sphincter system, and patients were examined to determine whether the fissure had healed. RESULTS: As a result of the lateral sphincterotomy, the resting pressure was lowered in all patients from 106.6±21.5 to 80.9±10.4 and maximum squeezing pressure from 149.3±27.6 to 135.3±27.2. Both results were highly significant (P<0.001, chisquared). Regarding either reduction in postoperative resting pressure or continence, Groups A and B did not differ statistically. In Group A soiling occurred in 3.2 percent and Grade 1 incontinence in 3.2 percent (1 patient each), and in Group B only one patient (0.7 percent) complained of soiling. Recurrences occurred in 9.7 percent of patients in Group A and in 2.1 percent of patients in Group B (3 patients in each case). CONCLUSION: Electromanometric examinations showed that internal sphincterotomy significantly reduces pressure within the anal canal, thus permitting the anal fissure to heal. No significant continence problems were observed. Although manometric selection of patients leads to different results regarding both postoperative continence and recurrence, these differences are not statistically significant. Therefore, it follows that, in experienced hands and using a standardized technique, manometry before surgical management of anal fissure by lateral sphincterotomy is probably superfluous.