Desgarro agudo del esfínter anal postparto con reparación inmediata / Immediate repair of acute postpartum anal sphincter tear: case report

Las lesiones obstétricas del esfínter anal pueden ocurrir durante el parto vaginal espontáneamente o secundariamente a la episiotomía. Su riesgo se estima en un 26% y son la causa más frecuente de incontinencia anal en mujeres jóvenes. Las lesiones de grado 4 de Sultan, también llamadas cloaca traumática, implican la ruptura completa del esfínter y la comunicación de la cavidad vaginal con el canal anal. La reparación es siempre quirúrgica, para lo que se han descrito diferentes técnicas, aunque ninguna ha demostrado ser superior. Presentamos el caso de una paciente primípara de 23 años con una cloaca traumática posparto. La reparación quirúrgica se realizó de inmediato con una técnica de overlapping. El postoperatorio fue sin complicaciones y al año presenta continencia anal completa. (AU)

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries can occur spontaneously or as a consequence of an episiotomy during vaginal delivery. Their risk is estimated at 26% and they are the most frequent cause of anal incontinence in young women. Sultan grade 4 injuries, also called traumatic cloaca, involve complete rupture of the sphincter and communication of the vaginal cavity with the anal canal. The repair is always surgical, for which different techniques have been described, although none have proven to be superior. We present the case of a 23-year-old primiparous patient with a postpartum traumatic cloaca. Surgical repair was performed immediately with an overlapping technique. The postoperative period was without complications and one year later she presents complete anal continence. (AU)

Traumatic deficient perineum: surgical management and outcome from a single center.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Deficient perineum is a disruption of the perineal body and distal rectovaginal septum presenting with anal incontinence and a range of urogenital symptoms. There is scarce reported outcome of this condition with management often delayed and with a variety of surgical alternatives. This study aims to determine faecal continence outcomes after long-term surgical repair. METHODS: Patients were included for analysis after surgical repair between 1989 and 2012. Cases were preoperatively assessed by endosonography and anorectal manometry with a record of their continence with the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS). Surgical repair comprised an overlapping repair of the external anal sphincter (EAS) with levatorplasty. There was selective use of internal anal sphincter (IAS) suture and/or advancement perineoplasty for soft tissue reconstruction. Patients were clinically evaluated for functional outcomes with comparison of their postoperative CCIS. RESULTS: There were 20 patients (median age 55.5 years; range 29-81 years) with a median duration of incontinence symptoms of 174 (range 1-540) months. All patients had an EAS and IAS defect with 14 (70%) undergoing an IAS suture and 10 (50%) a Corman-style anoplasty. Over a median follow-up of 137.2 (range 13-322) months, there was a significant decrease in the recorded median preoperative vs. postoperative CCIS 18, range 13-20 vs. 2, range 0-10, respectively; p < 0.001) with 18 (90%) satisfied with the functional outcome. Faecal diversion was not used in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced delayed repair of a traumatic cloaca is associated with an acceptable functional outcome at medium- to long-term follow-up.

Surgical repair of traumatic cloaca: a modified technique.

AIM: A modified repair technique for traumatic cloaca caused by obstetric anal sphincter injury was evaluated, and its feasibility and functional outcome were investigated. METHODS: A retrospective review of 23 consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with traumatic cloaca who underwent the modified repair technique between September 2010 and August 2018 was performed. Demographic, clinical feature, operative and follow-up data were recorded. RESULTS: The patients diagnosed with traumatic cloaca who underwent surgical repair after obstetric anal sphincter injury had a median time from obstetric injury of 24 (12-35) years. The median preoperative Wexner faecal incontinence score was 16 (14-17). The postoperative hospital stay was 6 (6-7) days. The median postoperative Wexner faecal incontinence score decreased to 2 (2-3). The anal resting pressure increased from 9.00 (5.25-11.50) mmHg to 56.00 (55.00-65.75) mmHg (P < 0.01) and the anal squeeze pressure increased from 29.00 (22.50-33.20) mmHg to 110.00 (96.20-121.50) mmHg (P < 0.01) at 2 months after the repair. Sixteen patients completed the Faecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale questionnaire, and there were significant improvements 1 year after surgical repair in lifestyle (3.10 [2.60-3.70] vs 2.60 [1.90-3.00], P < 0.01), coping/behaviour (3.38 [2.57-3.44] vs 2.33 [1.89-3.00], P < 0.01), depression/self-perception (3.11 [2.27-3.44] vs 2.33 [1.89-3.00], P < 0.01) and embarrassment (3.33 [2.75-3.67] vs 2.33 [2.33-3.00], P < 0.01). No patient presented rectovaginal fistula postoperatively within the median follow-up period of 24 (12-48) months. CONCLUSIONS: The modified repair technique for traumatic cloaca is feasible and achieves good functional outcomes and improved life quality.

Sphincteroplasty and perineoplasty with skin advancement flap in management of traumatic cloacal defect / Esfincteroplastia e perineoplastia com retalho cutâneo de avanço no tratamento de defeito cloacal traumático

ABSTRACT Background: Traumatic cloacal defect (TCD) is the condition that occurs in 0.3% of women who have experienced the third/fourth-degree perineal laceration during traumatic Natural Vaginal Delivery (NVD). This condition has many undesirable effects in their lives. Surgery is the best way to repair this deformity and will improve the quality of life in these patients. Design: In this study, we prospectively studied 19 patients who were referred to the hospital with symptoms of TCD within years 2011 and 2015 with the mean of 2.6-yrs follow-up. They all underwent sphincteroplasty and perineoplasty with skin advancement flap. Results: Of all 19 patients, incontinence to solid faeces in 16 patients (84%), incontinence to liquid stool in 15 patients (78%) and incontinence to flatus in 4 patients (21%) were completely resolved. The FI score was decreased from the mean of 12.7 to 2.6. Sexual function was significantly improved in all of them and dyspareunia was completely disappeared in 9 patients (50%). The quality of life score was increased from the mean of 45 to 95. Post-operation complications were occurred in 3 of patients (wound infection in 2-cases and recto-vaginal fistula in another). Conclusion: Our findings show that sphincteroplasty and perineoplasty with skin advancement flap is an effective surgical technique to repair the perineal body due to its benefits and few complications. In this study, there was significant improvement in quality of life of almost all patients after this reconstructive surgery. Consulting with a colorectal surgeon is recommended for these cases.

RESUMO Experiência: Defeito cloacal traumático (RCT) é a condição que ocorre em 0,3% das mulheres que sofreram laceração perineal de terceiro/quarto grau durante um parto vaginal natural (PNV) traumático. Essa condição causa muitos efeitos indesejáveis em suas vidas. A cirurgia é a melhor forma de reparar essa deformidade, e melhorará a qualidade de vida nessas pacientes. Modelo: Nesse estudo, estudamos prospectivamente 19 pacientes que foram encaminhadas ao hospital com sintomas de RCT entre 2011 e 2015, com uma media de 2,6 anos de seguimento. Todas foram submetidas a uma esfincteroplastia e perineoplastia, com retalho cutâneo de avanço. Resultados: Da totalidade de 19 pacientes, a incontinência para fezes sólidas em 16 pacientes (84%), a incontinência para fezes líquidas em 15 pacientes (78%) e a incontinência para flatos em quatro pacientes (21%) foram completamente resolvidas. Ocorreu redução no escore FI, de uma media de 12,7 para 2,6. A função sexual melhorou significativamente em todas as pacientes, e a dispareunia desapareceu completamente em nove pacientes (50%). O escore para qualidade de vida melhorou, da media de 45 para 95. Ocorreram complicações pós-operatórias em três pacientes (infecção da ferida em dois casos e fistula retovaginal no caso restante). Conclusão: Nossos achados demonstram que a esfincteroplastia e a perineoplastia com retalho cutâneo de avanço é técnica cirúrgica efetiva para o reparo do corpo perineal, graças a seus benefícios e às poucas complicações. Nesse estudo, foi observada melhora siga na qualidade de vida de praticamente todas as pacientes em seguida a essa cirurgia reconstrutiva. Para tais casos, é recomendável uma consulta com um cirurgião colorretal.

Repair of a traumatic cloaca after obstetric anal sphincter injury.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Unsuccessful primary repair of fourth-degree obstetric trauma can lead to permanent communication between the rectum and the vagina, which, in association with full-thickness anal sphincter defects, is characterized by complete fecal incontinence and severe impairment of quality of life. The aim of this video is to serve as a tutorial for repair. METHODS: A 27-year-old woman who developed a full-thickness recto-vaginal defect extended from the perineum to the upper third of the vagina has been managed through layered surgical repair without flaps. RESULTS: Anatomy and fecal continence have been completely restored by a follow-up of 24 months. CONCLUSION: The procedure described in this video has been shown to be effective and safe.

Surgical treatment of traumatic cloaca / Tratamento cirúrgico da cloaca pós-trauma

PURPOSE: To assess the functional results of surgical treatment of traumatic cloaca by a technique including reconstructive plastic surgery of the perineal body and of the rectovaginal septum using the puborectal and external sphincter muscles. METHODS: Six female patients were submitted to surgical treatment for correction of the cloaca over a period of 5 years (2002 to 2007). Loop sigmoidostomy was parformed in two patients. The mean duration of symptoms before surgical treatment was 97.5 months (4 months to 36 years), mean patient age was 36 years (17 to 58 years) and the follow-up period was 14.6 months (6 months to 2 years). RESULTS: Five patients (83.3 percent) regained fecal and flatus continence and one patient had flatus incontinence. DISCUSSION: Surgical treatment yields good results, is safe and involves low rates of complications.

INTRODUÇÃO: A causa mais comum da cloaca é o trauma obstétrico. O objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico empregando-se plástica reconstrutiva do corpo perineal e do septo reto vaginal. MÉTODOS: Foram operadas seis mulheres, num período de 5 anos (2002-2007). Sigmoidostomia em alça foi realizada em duas pacientes. O tempo médio de duração dos sintomas no pré-operatório foi de 97,5 meses (4 meses a 36 anos), a faixa etária média foi de 36 anos (17-58) e o período de seguimento foi de 14,6 meses (6 meses - 2 anos). RESULTADOS: Cinco pacientes (83,3 por cento) recuperaram a continência anal para fezes e flatos e uma paciente permaneceu com incontinência para gases. DISCUSSÃO: O tratamento cirúrgico da cloaca pós-trauma apresentou bons resultados, sendo considerado um procedimento seguro, com baixo índice de complicação.