Changes in Dynamic Pelvic Floor Magnet Resonance Imaging and Patient Satisfaction after Resection Rectopexy for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome.

PURPOSE: Resection rectopexy (RR) provides good functional results and low recurrence rates for the treatment of obstructed defecation syndrome based on rectal prolapse and cul-de-sac syndrome, whereas little is known about changes in pelvic floor dynamics and patient satisfaction after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within three years 26 consecutive female patients were prospectively included. Indications for RR (22 laparoscopic, 3 primary open and 1 converted-to-open) were rectal prolapse III° in 11 patients and cul-de-sac syndrome in 15 patients. Patients' quality of life (QOL), fecal behavior and defecation-associated pain were investigated before and after surgical treatment using anamnesis and clinical examination, Rand 36-idem health survey (SF-36), Cleveland-Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) and the visual analog scale for defecation-associated pain (VAS). Dynamic pelvic floor magnet resonance imaging (dPF-MRI) was used for the investigation of changes in pelvic floor anatomy and function before and after surgery. RESULTS: RR improved the rate of fecal incontinence (p < 0.01) and CCIS (p = 0.01). The use of laxatives (p = 0.01), the need for self-digitation (p = 0.02) and VAS (p < 0.01) were decreased, leading to improvements in QOL (overall p < 0.01). RR led to shortening of the H-line but not of the M-line under rest (p < 0.01) and during defecation (p = 0.04). A rectocele was co-incident in all patients in dPF-MRI before surgery. RR led to a reduction (p < 0.01) and declined protrusion (p = 0.03) of the rectocele. This results in a decreased rate of cul-de-sac (p < 0.01) and increased rate of complete defecation (p < 0.01) after surgery. At the 36-month follow-up no recurrence was observed. CONCLUSION: RR promises high rates of patient satisfaction and improvement in pelvic floor anatomy in select patients. KEY POINTS: • RR improves the pelvic floor anatomy of patients suffering from ODS. • RR improves the QOL of patients suffering from ODS. • An improvement in pelvic floor anatomy led to an improved QOL. • RR is an adequate treatment for select patients suffering from ODS.

Octreotide in the prevention of pancreatic damage induced by endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Somatostatin and the long acting analogue octreotide have been proposed as a therapeutic agent in acute pancreatitis and for the prophylaxis of pancreatic damage by ERCP and EST for their ability to reduce exocrine pancreatic secretion. However, clinical trials could not show significant beneficial effects in acute pancreatitis and ERCP. In patients undergoing EST, data remained controversial, most authors describing positive effects of prophylaxis. In this study we investigated the use of octreotide prophylaxis to reduce EST-induced pancreatic damage in a randomised, double blind trial. 94 consecutive ERCP/EST-patients were randomised to receive either octreotide 200 microgram s.c. or placebo 3 times daily, starting the night before endoscopic procedures. In 59 patients EST was performed. Blood samples were collected before and 40 min, 2 hrs, 6 hrs, 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs after the endoscopic procedures. Samples were analysed for pancreatic serum enzymes, acute phase proteins and blood counts. A clinical pain score was investigated. Post-EST-pancreatitis (amylase > 3x upper limit and persistent abdominal pain) was diagnosed in 3 patients in the treatment group, in 4 patients in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in the time-courses of serum enzymes or acute phase proteins in-between the groups, nor in the pain-score. According to these data, prophylactic octreotide application does not prevent acute pancreatic damage induced by endoscopic sphincterotomy.

[Comparative study after hamstring ACL plasty with RigidFix (pin fixation) and EndoButton (anchor fixation)]. / Vergleichende Studie nach vorderer Hamstring-Kreuzbandplastik mit RigidFix (Pinfixation) und EndoButton (Ankerfixation).

AIM: Within a prospective case group study, two hamstring fixation techniques, a pin fixation with RigidFix (RF) and an anchor fixation with EndoButton (EB), were compared. METHOD: 67 patients were followed clinically and by MRI preoperatively (t0), at six months (t6) and at twelve months (t12). In one group (N = 21), EB was used for representing a juxta-articular graft fixation. The second group (N = 46) with RF was used to represent the ab-articular fixation. KT-1000 stability measurement, IKDC, Lysholm and Tegner scores were used to determine the clinical outcomes. Reflux and tunnel widening (TW) were investigated by MRI. RESULTS: The KT-1000 values were slightly more stable at t6 (EB: 2.1 +/- 4.1 mm, RF: 1.0 +/- 2.5 mm) in the RF group (p = 0.044) but equalised later at t12 (EB: 0.5 +/- 3.1 mm, RF 1.0 +/- 2.4 mm). The median Tegner score at t6 (EB: 4.3 +/- 1.2, RF 4.1 +/- 1.7) and t12 (EB: 5.9 +/- 1.8, RF 5.4 +/- 2.0) were comparable (p = 0.692). The mean Lysholm score at t6 (EB: 90 +/- 11, RF: 91 +/- 8.9) and t12 (EB: 95 +/- 7.5, RF: 95 +/- 7.4) was comparable in each group (p = 0.589). The same was valid in the median of the IKDC score at t6 (EB: II, RF III) and t12 (EB: II, RF III). The category "femoral reflux" showed slight minimal fringe in the EB group at t6 but aligned to "no reflux" together with the RF group at t12 (NS, p = 0.550). A tunnel widening was not detectable in either of the groups.

Pathological pancreatic exocrine function and duct morphology in patients with cholelithiasis.

Most authors claim alcohol consumption to be the only relevant reason for chronic pancreatitis. However, gallstones might cause this disease, as they do cause acute pancreatitis. In this study 91 gallstone patients and 94 age-matched controls were investigated concerning exocrine pancreatic function (fecal elastase-1 concentrations). Furthermore x-rays of 100 consecutive ERCP patients were evaluated for differences concerning pancreatic duct changes between patients with and without evidence of cholelithiasis. Pathological elastase 1 levels were more frequent in gallstone patients (30,8%) as compared to age-matched controls (19%). Symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, bloating, and fat intolerance were reported more often in gallstone patients. In ERCP of gallstone patients (N = 60), 77% were found to have chronic pancreatitis according to the Cambridge classification, while in nongallstone-patients (N = 32) 47% had chronic pancreatitis. In conclusion, according to these data a pathophysiological connection between gallstones and chronic pancreatitis appears to be probable.