Evaluation of a Minimally Invasive Bipolar Coagulation System for the Treatment of Grade I and II Internal Hemorrhoids.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoids are common and affect mainly the young and middle-aged populations. Current guidelines recommend treating grade I and II hemorrhoids with office-based procedures. These therapies usually require multiple applications. Hemorrhoid energy therapy treats the hemorrhoids at 1 treatment session. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hemorrhoid energy therapy. DESIGN: This was a prospective pilot study evaluating patients with symptomatic grade I and II internal hemorrhoids. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary academic center. PATIENTS: Patients over the age of 18 years with chronic, symptomatic grade I and II internal hemorrhoids who failed 2 weeks of conservative therapy were enrolled between July 2015 and January 2019. Exclusion criteria included patients with grade III or IV internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, nonhemorrhoidal GI bleeding, active proctitis, and IBD. INTERVENTIONS: Hemorrhoid energy therapy was administered in clinic, and 2 postprocedure visits were completed. A pretreatment hemorrhoid symptom score was obtained from each patient. A visual analog score was assessed posttreatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was to evaluate the effect of hemorrhoid energy therapy on hemorrhoid symptoms and its safety. The secondary end point was evaluation of postprocedural pain. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients were enrolled. The mean duration of hemorrhoid symptoms was 3.3 ± 6.4 years, and rectal bleeding and hemorrhoidal prolapse were the most common symptoms. After the procedure, patient hemorrhoid symptom scores decreased from mean 5.5 to 1.4. The mean immediate postprocedural visual analog score was 2.4 ± 2.1 and decreased to <1.0 after 14 days. LIMITATIONS: The limitations include lack of comparative groups, single-center design, and small cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The application of hemorrhoid energy therapy in the treatment of grade I and II internal hemorrhoids is safe and results in reduction of symptoms, low rate of short-term complications, and minimal pain. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B491. EVALUACIÓN DE UN SISTEMA DE COAGULACIÓN BIPOLAR MÍNI-INVASIVA PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE HEMORROIDES INTERNAS GRADOS I Y II: La enfermedad hemorroidal es muy común y afecta principalmente poblaciones jóvenes y de mediana edad. Las guías actuales recomiendan tratar las hemorroides de grado I y II con procedimientos en el consultorio. Estos tratamientos suelen requerir múltiples aplicaciones. La aplicación de energía para tratar las hemorroides requiere de una sola sesión.Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia del tratamiento hemorroidal con una fuente de energía.Estudio piloto prospectivo que evalúa los pacientes con hemorroides internas de grado I y II sintomáticas.El estudio se realizó en un centro académico terciario.Entre julio de 2015 y enero de 2019 se inscribieron pacientes mayores de 18 años con hemorroides intomáticas internas crónicas grado I y II que fracasaron luego de 2 semanas de tratameinto conservador. Los criterios de exclusión incluyeron pacientes con hemorroides internas de grado III o IV, hemorroides externas, sangrado de orígen gastrointestinal no hemorroidal, proctitis activa y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.Se realizó la aplicación de energía sobre las hemorroides en el consultorio y se completó el procedimiento con dos visitas posteriores. Se obtuvo una puntuación analógica de síntomas hemorroidarios en cada paciente antes del tratamiento. Se evaluó la puntuación analógica visual luego del procedimiento.El principal criterio final fué evaluar el efecto de la terapia energética hemorroidaria con relación a los síntomas y la seguridad del dispositivo. El segundo criterio final fué el evaluar el dolor posoperatorio.Se registraron un total de 35 pacientes. La duración media de los síntomas hemorroidarios fué de 3,3 ± 6,4 años, el sangrado rectal y el prolapso hemorroidal fueron los síntomas más frecuentes. Después del procedimiento, las puntuaciones de los síntomas hemorroidarios disminuyeron en una media de 5,5 a 1,4. La puntuación analógica visual media inmediatamente posterior al procedimiento fue de 2,4 ± 2,1 y disminuyó a <1 después de 14 días.Las limitaciones incluyen la falta de grupos comparativos, el diseño de un solo centro y una pequeña cohorte de pacientes.La aplicación de energía como tratamiento de la enfermedad hemorroidal interna grado I y II es segura y da como resultados la reducción de los síntomas, una baja tasa de complicaciones a corto plazo y mínimo dolor. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B491. (Traducción-Dr Xavier Delgadillo).

Bio-Thiersch as an Adjunct to Perineal Proctectomy Reduces Rates of Recurrent Rectal Prolapse.

BACKGROUND: The rates of recurrent prolapse after perineal proctectomy vary widely in the literature, with incidences ranging between 0% and 50%. The Thiersch procedure, first described in 1891 for the treatment of rectal prolapse, involves encircling the anus with a foreign material with the goal of confining the prolapsing rectum above the anus. The Bio-Thiersch procedure uses biological mesh for anal encirclement and can be used as an adjunct to perineal proctectomy for rectal prolapse to reduce recurrence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Bio-Thiersch procedure as an adjunct to perineal proctectomy and its impact on recurrence compared with perineal proctectomy alone. DESIGN: A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing perineal proctectomy with and without Bio-Thiersch was performed. SETTINGS: Procedures took place in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at a tertiary academic teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who had undergone perineal proctectomy and those who received perineal proctectomy with Bio-Thiersch were evaluated and compared. INTERVENTIONS: All of the patients with rectal prolapse received perineal proctectomy with levatorplasty, and a proportion of those patients had a Bio-Thiersch placed as an adjunct. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of recurrent rectal prolapse after perineal proctectomy alone or perineal proctectomy with Bio-Thiersch was documented. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients underwent perineal proctectomy (8 had a previous prolapse procedure), and 25 patients underwent perineal proctectomy with Bio-Thiersch (12 had a previous prolapse procedure). Patients who received perineal proctectomy with Bio-Thiersch had a lower rate of recurrent rectal prolapse (p < 0.05) despite a higher proportion of them having had a previous prolapse procedure (p < 0.01). Perineal proctectomy with Bio-Thiersch had a lower recurrence over time versus perineal proctectomy alone (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by nature of being a retrospective review. CONCLUSIONS: Bio-Thiersch as an adjunct to perineal proctectomy may reduce the risk for recurrent rectal prolapse and can be particularly effective in patients with a history of previous failed prolapse procedures.

Robot-Assisted Abdominoperineal Resection: Clinical, Pathologic, and Oncologic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The extralevator approach to abdominoperineal resection is associated with a decreased incidence of rectal perforation and circumferential resection margin positivity translating to lower recurrence rates. The abdominoperineal resection, as such, is an operation associated with poorer outcomes in comparison with low anterior resections, and any improvements in short-term outcomes are likely to be related to surgical technique. Robot assistance in extralevator abdominoperineal resection has shown improvement in these pathologic outcomes. Because these are surrogate markers for local recurrence and disease-free survival, long-term survival data are needed to assess the efficacy of this robot-assisted technique, exclusively in a dedicated abdominoperineal resection cohort. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the perioperative, pathologic, and oncologic outcomes of the robot-assisted extralevator abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer. DESIGN: This study was a review of a prospective database of patients over a 5-year period. SETTING: Procedures were performed in the colorectal division of a tertiary hospital from April 2007 to July 2012. PATIENTS: Patients with rectal cancer were operated on robotically. Indications for abdominoperineal resection were low rectal cancers invading the sphincter complex or location in the anal canal precluding anastomosis. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received a robot-assisted extralevator abdominoperineal resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative and perioperative measures, pathologic outcomes, and disease-free survival and overall survival were documented and assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (15 men) with a mean age of 65.5 years and mean BMI of 28.6 kg/m underwent robotic abdominoperineal resection. Circumferential resection margin was positive in 13.6%. There was 1 tumor/rectal perforation. At a mean follow-up of 33.9 months, overall survival was 81.8% with a disease-free survival of 72.7%. Local recurrence was 4.5%. LIMITATIONS: This was a single-institution study with no comparative open or laparoscopic group. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted abdominoperineal resection is safe, feasible, and oncologically sound with short-term and long-term outcomes comparable to open and laparoscopic surgery.

Sacral nerve stimulation in the treatment of bowel dysfunction from imperforate anus: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Bowel dysfunction (fecal incontinence and constipation) presents in over 50% of patients after treatment of congenital anal malformations. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for the treatment of fecal incontinence improves function in the majority of patients. We present a case report of the treatment of bowel dysfunction with sacral nerve stimulation in a patient with a history of an imperforate anus. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A twenty year-old female with a history of imperforate anus at birth, repaired during infancy with anorectoplasty, presented with fecal incontinence and constipation. Since childhood, she had been suffering from intermittent constipation with worsening fecal incontinence in early adulthood. Examination revealed mild anal stenosis and mucosal prolapse. Endoanal ultrasound demonstrated intact internal and external sphincter with low resting and squeeze pressures on anal manometry. Flexible sigmoidoscopy was normal. The patient underwent permanent sacral nerve stimulation with a primary goal of improvement in continence and, secondarily, for the alleviation of intermittent chronic constipation. DISCUSSION: At 15 month follow-up, the patient had improvement in fecal incontinence (CCIS of 14 pre-SNS to 1 post-SNS), constipation (CCCS of 28 pre-SNS to 20 post-SNS), and quality of life (FIQOL improved in lifestyle (3.7), coping/behavior (3.4), self perception (3.9), and social embarrassment (4.5). CONCLUSION: Sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of bowel dysfunction in adults secondary to imperforate anus can be performed safely and with good results.

Robot-assisted approach to a retrorectal lesion in an obese female.

BACKGROUND: Often detected incidentally, retrorectal tumors frequently require resection secondary to possibility of malignancy, development of infection, and localized growth with compression. The surgical approach is summarized to abdominal, posterior or a combination, depending on the location of the retrorectal mass and its relationship to the pelvic sidewall. Laparoscopic transabdominal resection of retrorectal tumors has shown safety and efficacy. Robot technology offers a stable platform with superb optics, and endo-wristed instruments that can facilitate dissection in the narrow pelvis. We present the emerging new technique of robot-assisted minimally invasive approach to a retrorectal mass in an obese female. METHODS: An obese 35-year-old female, body mass index (BMI) 41 kg/m2, with an incidental 2 cm cystic retrorectal lesion involving the pelvic sidewall was taken to the operating room for a robot-assisted minimally invasive resection of the mass. RESULTS: Total operative time was 2 hours and 30 minutes, and total robotic dissection at 70 minutes. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 2. Final pathology revealed a benign Mullerian type cyst, 2.2 cm in greatest dimension. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted minimally invasive resection of a retrorectal mass is safe and feasible. This method can be particularly useful in the narrow pelvis and with obese patients.