Randomized prospective comparative study of platelet-rich plasma versus conventional compression in treatment of post-phlebitic venous ulcer.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as adjunctive to compression therapy for post-phlebitic venous ulcers. METHODS: This is a single-center randomized controlled trial on patients with persistent chronic post-phlebitic lower limb venous ulcers from March 2019 to March 2020. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two equal cohort groups. Patients group in which patients underwent combined PRP with compression therapy versus control group in which patients underwent placebo+ compression therapy alone. The primary endpoint of the study was the improvement in ulcer topographic measurement. Secondary endpoints included ulcer healing parameters, possible healing factors, reduction in pain score (VAS), and the achievement of complete healing. RESULTS: Forty patients were available equally for randomization and analysis in both groups. The median number of PRP applications for every patient in the patient group was 6 (ranging from 3 to 6). There was a significant decline in the median length, width, and depth of ulcers in the patients group versus control group. Consequently, there was a significant decline of the median ulcer area, in the patient group versus control group (4 (3-9) cm2 vs. 10 (6-14) cm2, p = .036). Also, the median volume of the ulcers showed a significant decline in the patient group versus control group (1 (.7-3) cm3 vs 3 (2-6) cm3, p = .008). Complete healing was achieved in 45% of patient group. There was a significant decline in pain scores at 3- and 6 months from the therapy starting point in both groups (patient group: pre-VAS = 6.5 vs. post(3 months)-VAS = 1 vs. post(6 months)-VAS = 0.5) and (control group: pre-VAS = 6.4 vs. post(3 months)-VAS = 4.5 vs. post(6 months)-VAS = 2.2), (p < .0001 for each). On the other hand, the decline in pain scores between both groups was statistically significant in favor of the patient group, (post (3 months); PRP-VAS = 1 vs. control-VAS = 4.5, and post(6 months); PRP-VAS = 0.5 vs. control-VAS = 2.2), (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Platelet-rich plasma as an adjunct to compression therapy for chronic post-phlebitic venous ulcers is safe and effective as regards the ulcer healing and improvement of pain score. PRP may be useful adjunct in treatment of post-phlebitic venous ulcer. However, larger trials are warranted.

Horizontal versus vertical plication of the rectovaginal septum in transperineal repair of anterior rectocele: a pilot randomized clinical trial.

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 first group underwent TPR with VP of the rectovaginal septum and the second group underwent TPR with HP. The main outcome measures were improvement in ODS, recurrence of rectocele, complications and dyspareunia. RESULTS: The trial included 40 female patients with anterior rectocele. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the postoperative Wexner score. Complete cure and significant improvement in ODS symptoms were comparable after the two techniques. The reduction in rectocele size after HP was significantly greater than after VP (1.7 vs. 2.6, P < 0.0001). Significant improvement in dyspareunia was recorded after HP (P = 0.001) but not after VP (P = 0.1). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to operating time, complications and recurrence. CONCLUSION: VP and HP of the rectovaginal septum in TPR were associated with a comparable improvement in ODS symptoms and similar complication rates. HP was followed by a greater reduction in the rectocele size and greater improvement in dyspareunia than VP.

Early detection of anastomotic leakage after elective low anterior resection.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal anastomotic leakage is a serious complication leading to major postoperative morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we investigated the early detection of anastomotic leakage before its clinical presentation. METHOD: Fifty-six patients with rectal cancer were included prospectively in this study. All patients underwent elective low anterior resection. Peritoneal samples were collected from the abdominal drains at the first, third, and fifth days postoperatively for bacteriological study (quantitative cultures for both aerobes and anaerobes) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF) measurement. Patients were divided into two groups: those without symptomatic or clinical evidence of anastomotic leakage (AL; group 1) and those with clinical evidence of AL (group 2). Study variables included hospital stay, wound infection, operative time, blood loss, height of anastomosis, intraperitoneal cytokines, and microbiological study of peritoneal fluid. RESULT: Clinically evident AL occurred in eight patients (14.3%) and diagnosed postoperatively on median day 6. Intraperitoneal bacterial colonization and cytokine levels were significantly higher in patients with clinical evidence of AL. Wound infection was significantly higher in anastomotic leakage group. The hospital stay for the patients with anastomotic leakage was significantly longer than those without AL (14 ± 1.41 vs. 5.43 ± 0.89 days). A significant difference among two groups was observed regarding operative time, blood loss, blood transfusion, and height of the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: The peritoneal cytokines levels and intraperitoneal bacterial colonization might be an additional diagnostic tool that can support the decision making of surgeons for early detection of anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery.

Clinical impacts of oral gastrografin follow-through in adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO).

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that gastrografin can be used for diagnosis of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) and for assessing the need for surgical intervention. However, several studies have reported conflicting results. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic effect of gastrografin in ASBO. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Altogether, 110 patients with ASBO were randomized into control and gastrografin groups. In the gastrografin group, 100 mL of the dye was administered through a nasogastric tube. Obstruction was considered complete if the contrast failed to reach the colon on the 24-h film. Patients with gastrografin in the colon within 24 h after dye administration were considered as partially obstructed, and were submitted to nonoperative treatment. The patients were operated on if they developed signs of strangulation or failed to improve within 48 h. RESULTS: The overall operative rate was 14.5% in gastrografin group versus 34.5% in control group, P=0.04. The time from admission to resolution of symptoms was significantly lower in gastrografin group (19.5 versus 42.6 h, P=0.001), and the length of hospital stay was shorter in gastrografin group (3.8 versus 6.9 d 0.002), and in nonoperative patients (3.1 versus 5.1 days). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for gastrografin follow-through as an indicator for operative treatment of ASBO were 87.5%, 100%, 100 % , and 97.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Oral gastrografin helps in the management of ASBO. Oral gastrografin is safe and reduces the operative rate and time of resolution as well as hospital stay.

Idiopathic hypertensive anal canal: a place of internal sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive anal canal is frequently known to be associated with the presence of anal fissure. Based on clinical experience, we hypothesized that idiopathic anal sphincter hypertonia was a condition equivalent to anal fissure, and therefore, it could be treated the same way. PATIENT AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients complaining of anal pain without any anal pathology and ten healthy volunteers were examined. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, neurological examination, anorectal manometry, and measurement of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. All patients with hypertensive anal canal were randomized into three groups. Group I (surgical group) underwent closed lateral sphincterotomy (LS), group II using nitroglycerine ointment (GTN), and group III received injection of botulinum toxin in internal sphincter. Post-procedures data were recorded at follow-up period. RESULTS: The mean resting anal pressure (MRAP) was significantly higher in the patient group (114.6 +/- 7.4 mmHg) than control group (72.5 +/- 6.6 mmHg, P < 0.001). Anal pain is the main presenting symptoms aggravated by defecation and not relived by analgesics or local anesthetics. After LS, pain visual analogue scale decreased significantly at follow-up period than after chemical sphincterotomy using GTN or BTX (P = 0.001). There was a significant decrease in MRAP postoperatively from 114.6 +/- 7.4 to 70.8 +/- 5.5 mmHg than after using GTN or BTX (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Idiopathic hypertensive anal canal is a fact and already exists presented by anal pain aggravated by defecation. It can be managed safely by closed lateral sphincterotomy, but chemical sphincterotomy had a minor role in its management.

Early oral feeding in patients undergoing elective colonic anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the safety outcome of early oral feeding and reports on the factors affecting early postoperative feeding after colorectal procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and April 2008, 120 consecutive patients underwent elective colonic anastomosis and were then randomized into two groups. The early feeding group began fluids on the first postoperative day while the regular feeding group was managed in the traditional way - nothing by mouth until the resolution of ileus. RESULTS: The majority of patients (75%) tolerated the early feeding. The times to first passage of flatus (3.3+/-0.9 days vs 4.2+/-1.2 days) and stool (4.1+/-1.2 days vs 4.9+/-1.2 days) were significantly quicker in group 1. Hospital stay was also significantly shorter in the early feeding group (6.2+/-0.2 days vs 6.9+/-0.5 days). Operative time and amount of blood loss had an impact on the tolerability of early feeding while age, gender, type of operation and previous abdominal operation had no such impact. CONCLUSION: Early oral feeding after colorectal surgery is safe and tolerated by the majority of patients. Operative time and amount of blood loss do, however, have an impact on the tolerability of early feeding.

Comparative study between biofeedback retraining and botulinum neurotoxin in the treatment of anismus patients.

PURPOSE: Anismus is a significant cause of chronic constipation. This study came to revive the results of BFB training and BTX-A injection in the treatment of anismus patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with anismus (33 women; mean age 39.6 +/- 15.9) were included in this study. All patients fulfilled Rome II criteria for functional constipation. All patients underwent anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion test, defecography, and electromyography (EMG) activity of the EAS. All patients had non-relaxing puborectalis muscle. The patients were randomized into two groups. Group I patients received biofeedback therapy, two times per week for about 1 month. Group II patients were injected with BTX-A. Follow-up was conducted weekly in the first month then monthly for about 1 year. RESULTS: In the BFB training group, three patients quit before the end of sessions with no improvement; initial improvement was recorded in 12 patients (50%) while long-term success was recorded in six patients (25%). In the BTX-A group, clinical improvement was recorded in 17 patients (70.83%), but the improvement persisted only in eight patients (33.3%). There is a significant difference between BTX-A group and BFB group regarding the initial success, but this significant difference disappeared at the end of follow-up. Manometric relaxation was achieved significantly post-BFB and post-BTX-A injection with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback training has a limited therapeutic effect on patients suffering from anismus. BTX-A injection seems to be successful for temporary treatment of anismus.

Rubber band ligation for 750 cases of symptomatic hemorrhoids out of 2200 cases.

AIM: To study the results for the treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids using rubber band ligation (RBL) method. METHODS: A retrospective study for 750 patients who came to the colorectal unit from June, 1998 to September, 2006, data was retrieved from archived files. RBL was performed using the Mc Gown applicator on an outpatient basis. The patients were asked to return to out-patient clinic for follow up at 2 wk, 1 mo, 6 mo and through telephone call every 6 mo for 2 years). RESULTS: After RBL, 696 patients (92.8%) were cured with no difference in outcome for second or third degree hemorrhoids (P = 0.31). Symptomatic recurrence was detected in 11.04% after 2 years. A total of 52 patients (6.93%) had 77 complications from RBL which required no hospitalization. Complications were pain, rectal bleeding and vaso-vagal symptoms (4.13%, 4.13% and 1.33% of patients, respectively). At 1 mo there were a significant improvement in mean SF-36 scores over baseline in five items, while after 2 years there were improvement in all items over baseline, but not significant. No significant manometeric changes after band ligation. CONCLUSION: RBL is a simple, safe and effective method for treating symptomatic second and third degree hemorrhoids as an out patient procedure with significant improvement in quality of life. RBL doesn't alter ano-rectal functions.