Evaluation and management of perianal abscess and anal fistula: SICCR position statement.

Perianal sepsis is a common condition ranging from acute abscess to chronic anal fistula. In most cases, the source is considered to be a non-specific cryptoglandular infection starting from the intersphincteric space. Surgery is the main treatment and several procedures have been developed, but the risks of recurrence and of impairment of continence still seem to be an unresolved issue. This statement reviews the pertinent literature and provides evidence-based recommendations to improve individualized management of patients.

The clinical value of magnetic resonance defecography in males with obstructed defecation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between symptoms of obstructed defecation and findings on magnetic resonance (MR) defecography in males with obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS). METHODS: Thirty-six males with ODS who underwent MR defecography at our institution between March 2013 and February 2016 were asked in a telephone interview about their symptoms and subsequent treatment, either medical or surgical. Patients were divided into 2 groups, one with anismus (Group 1) and one with prolapse without anismus (Group 2). The interaction between ODS type and symptoms with MR findings was assessed by multivariate analysis for categorical data using a hierarchical log-linear model. MR imaging findings included lateral and/or posterior rectocele, rectal prolapse, intussusception, ballooning of levator hiatus with impingement of pelvic organs and dyskinetic puborectalis muscle. RESULTS: There were 21 males with ODS due to anismus (Group 1) and 15 with ODS due to rectal prolapse/intussusception (Group 2). Mean age of the entire group was 53.6 ± 4.1 years (range 18-77 years). Patients in Group 1 were slightly older than those in Group 2 (age peak, sixth decade in 47.6 vs 20.0%, p < 0.05). Symptoms most frequently associated with Group 1 patients included small volume and hard feces (85.0%, p < 0.01), excessive strain at stool (81.0%, p < 0.05), tenesmus and fecaloma formation (57.1 and 42.9%, p < 0.05); symptoms most frequently associated with Group 2 patients included mucous discharge, rectal bleeding and pain (86.7%, p < 0.05), prolonged toilet time (73.3%, p < 0.05), fragmented evacuation with or without digitation (66.7%, p < 0.005). Voiding outflow obstruction was more frequent in Group 1 (19.0 vs 13.3%; p < 0.05), while non-bacterial prostatitis and sexual dysfunction prevailed in Group 2 (26.7 and 46.7%, p < 0.05). At MR defecography, two major categories of findings were detected: a dyskinetic pattern (Type 1), seen in all Group 1 patients, which was characterized by non-relaxing puborectalis muscle, sand-glass configuration of the anorectum, poor emptying rate, limited pelvic floor descent and final residue ≥ 2/3; and a prolapsing pattern (Type 2), seen in all Group 2 patients, which was characterized by rectal prolapse/intussusception, ballooning of the levator hiatus with impingement of the rectal floor and prostatic base, excessive pelvic floor descent and residue ≤ 1/2. Posterolateral outpouching defined as perineal hernia was present in 28.6% of patients in Group 1 and were absent in Group 2. The average levator plate angle on straining differed significantly in the two patterns (21.3° ± 4.1 in Group 1 vs 65.6° ± 8.1 in Group 2; p < 0.05). Responses to the phone interview were obtained from 31 patients (18 of Group 1 and 13 of Group 2, response rate, 86.1%). Patients of Group 1 were always treated without surgery (i.e., biofeedback, dietary regimen, laxatives and/or enemas) which resulted in symptomatic improvement in 12/18 cases (66.6%). Of the patients in Group 2, 2/13 (15.3) underwent surgical repair, consisting of stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) which resulted in symptom recurrence after 6 months and laparoscopic ventral rectopexy which resulted in symptom improvement. The other 11 patients of Group 2 were treated without surgery with symptoms improvement in 3 (27.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of various abnormalities at MR defecography in men with ODS shows 2 distinct patterns which may have potential relevance for treatment planning, whether conservative or surgical.

MR-defecography in obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS): technique, diagnostic criteria and grading.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a magnetic resonance (MR)-based classification system of obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS) to guide physicians in patient management. METHODS: The medical records and imaging series of 105 consecutive patients (90 female, 15 male, aged 21-78 years, mean age 46.1 ± 5.1 years) referred to our center between April 2011 and January 2012 for symptoms of ODS were retrospectively examined. After history taking and a complete clinical examination, patients underwent MR imaging according to a standard protocol using a 0.35 T permanent field, horizontally oriented open-configuration magnet. Static and dynamic MR-defecography was performed using recognized parameters and well-established diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Sixty-seven out of 105 (64 %) patients found the prone position more comfortable for the evacuation of rectal contrast while 10/105 (9.5 %) were unable to empty their rectum despite repeated attempts. Increased hiatus size, anterior rectocele and focal or extensive defects of the levator ani muscle were the most frequent abnormalities (67.6, 60.0 and 51.4 %, respectively). An MR-based classification was developed based on the combinations of abnormalities found: Grade 1 = functional abnormality, including paradoxical contraction of the puborectalis muscle, without anatomical defect affecting the musculo-fascial structures; Grade 2 = functional defect associated with a minor anatomical defect such as rectocele ≤ 2 cm in size and/or first-degree intussusception; Grade 3 = severe defects confined to the posterior anatomical compartment, including >2 cm rectocele, second- or higher-degree intussusception, full-thickness external rectal prolapse, poor mesorectal posterior fixation, rectal descent >5 cm, levator ani muscle rupture, ballooning of the levator hiatus and focal detachment of the endopelvic fascia; Grade 4 = combined defects of two or three pelvic floor compartments, including cystocele, hysterocele, enlarged urogenital hiatus, fascial tears enterocele or peritoneocele; Grade 5 = changes after failed surgical repair abscess/sinus tracts, rectal pockets, anastomotic strictures, small uncompliant rectum, kinking and/or lateral shift of supra-anastomotic portion and pudendal nerve entrapment. CONCLUSIONS: According to our classification, Grades 1 and 2 may be amenable to conservative therapy; Grade 3 may require surgical intervention by a coloproctologist; Grade 4 would need a combined urogynecological and coloproctological approach; and Grade 5 may require an even more complex multidisciplinary approach. Validation studies are needed to assess whether this MR-based classification system leads to a better management of patients with ODS.

Set-up and statistical validation of a new scoring system for obstructed defaecation syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: There is no objective means to assess the obstructed defaecation syndrome (ODS), to allow evaluation of outcome or to compare the efficacy of treatment including surgery. The study aimed to validate a disease-specific index to quantify severity to allow assessment of the results of treatment in clinical trials, to permit comparison between them. METHOD: Seventy-six patients with ODS and 30 healthy controls entered the study after proctologic and ano-rectal physiological investigation. Hirschsprung's disease and slow transit constipation were excluded. An eight-item questionnaire with four or five possible answers was administered by two independent researchers at two different times. The ODS score was the sum of all points with a maximum possible of 31 points. Agreement between the two operators was evaluated by the Kappa coefficient for each single item. The coefficient of repeatability (CR) was assessed by the Bland and Altman plot. The internal consistency was evaluated by the Crohnbach-alpha test. A cluster analysis was carried out on each clinical finding. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare median ODS score between patients and controls. RESULTS: The ODS score of the two operators was normally distributed and strongly correlated (r = 0.89). The correlation coefficient between the score assigned to each item by two operators ranged from 0.79 to 0.98. The degree of agreement between the operators was good and the two methods were reproducible (CR = 3.13). There was a significant difference between the mean ODS score for patients and controls (t = 20.70, P < 0.001). The Crohnbach alpha value for internal reliability was +0.513. Cluster analysis showed a different profile between cluster 1 (a nonhomogenous group including rectocoele, intussusception or perineal descent), and cluster 2 (pelvic dysynergia). CONCLUSION: The ODS score offers a validated severity of disease index in grading the severity of disease and monitoring the efficacy of therapy.

Anal endosonography: a survey of equipment, technique and diagnostic criteria adopted in nine Italian centers.

BACKGROUND: Anal endosonography (AES) has become an essential part of the pre-operative diagnostic workup in both organic and functional anal diseases. METHODS: Nine Italian centres with an average volume activity of >10 exams/week each were surveyed with the aim of determining the concordance with respect to indications for the procedure and interpretation of the results. RESULTS: Overall, anal sepsis, faecal incontinence and anorectal tumours were the more common indications for AES while evacuation dysfunctions and anal pain were not always considered indications. All centres use the same diagnostic criteria for simple and complicated perirectal sepsis and sphincteric defects, but adopt different classifications for stage 1 and stage 2 anal tumours. Participants agreed in that lymph-node staging by AES is less precise than tumour staging, especially after chemoradiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A list of recommendations and guidelines based on the groups's experience has been produced for those radiologists and coloproctologists interested in the use of AES and accreditation of their centres.

Evacuation sonography.

BACKGROUND: Because of the drawbacks of defecography (radiation hazard and lack of standardization), a new method by introital sonography is described to assess the evacuation phenomenon in women as an alternative to contrast radiographic studies. METHODS: Ten consecutive women (mean age, 41 years; range, 33-50; mean parity, 2; range, 1-4) without evacuation disturbances (history and physical examination) nor prior pelvic surgery underwent hypoechoic contrast-enhanced evacuation sonography in the squatting position and fluoroscopic defecography, when appropriate, within a 10-minute interval. RESULTS: Both techniques gave clear images of anal neck opening and funneling. While ultrasonography underestimated anorectal junction mobility, it showed soft tissue details (flap valve) not seen at defecography. Other advantages with sonography included lack of radiation hazard and prolonged observation time. CONCLUSIONS: Evacuation sonography may be useful as an alternative to defecography for research purposes and for screening of evacuation dysfunctions in women.

[The 3rd national workshop on defecography: the functional radiology of (neo) rectal ampullae (ileal reservoir, colo-anal anastomosis, continent perineal colostomy)]. / III workshop nazionale sulla defecografia: la fisioradiologia delle (neo)ampolle rettali (reservoir ileale, colo-ano-anastomosi, colostomia perineale continente).

A survey was made in 13 Italian centers with a questionnaire concerning the (a) indications, (b) postoperative complications, (c) functional results and (d) diagnostic imaging modalities related to the making of an ileal or colonic (neo) rectum. Ulcerative colitis (100%), familial polyposis (61.5%) and Crohn's disease (15.3%) were the most common indications for an ileal pouch; rectal cancer (7.96%), chronic inflammatory diseases (15.3%), diverticulosis, rectal prolapse, redundant colon and imperforate anus (7.6% each) were the most common indications for a colonic pouch. Postoperative complications included pelvic abscess (14%), sinus tract/dehiscence (10%) and bowel obstruction (9%). When compared with the S and W variants, the J-shaped ileoanal pouch proved superior because urgency and fecal retention rates were lower (18.4% vs. 44.4% and 23% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), despite slightly more frequent staining episodes (15.8% vs. 11.1%; p < 0.05). As for colonic ampullae, fecal retention and provoked evacuation were more frequent in the J pouch and after gracileplasty; urgency and incontinence in the straight colo-anal anastomosis (33.3% vs. 22.2% and 41.6% vs. 33.3%, respectively). The functional outcome was assessed by anal endosonography (available in 4/13 centers), defecography and anorectal manometry. Abnormal findings included: (a) reduced capacity, barium leakage, anal gaping, sphincter damage (urgency and incontinence); (b) barium retention, pouch dilatation, split evacuation, knobs and strictures (fecal retention).

[Defecography in the diagnosis of fecal incontinence: an analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC)]. / La defecografia nella diagnosi di incontinenza fecale: analisi delle receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Two groups of patients with altered bowel habit and pelvic floor dysfunction, but comparable epidemiologic characteristics (i.e. n = 105 each; mean age and SD 47.3 +/- 15.8 yrs vs. 54.9 +/- 16.7 yrs; range 15-80 yrs vs. 9-88 yrs; F/M ratio 28:1 vs. 2.6:1) with the exception of the absence (or presence) of fecal incontinence, were examined with defecography, taking into account criteria other than anorectal angle values and anorectal junction mobility. At the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis a "barium leak sign", occurring either at rest or on straining was found to be a highly reliable index of fecal incontinence (specificity: 100% and 92-93%, respectively, intraobserver agreement K value = 0.82, Z = 21.58, p < 0.001). A false negative rate of 14.2% was limited to "minor" incontinence only, i.e., incontinence to gas and/or occasional staining episodes. In the search for an etiologic diagnosis, useful adjunctive criteria included (a) anal diameter > 10 mm at rest; (b) poor stop test (inability to interrupt the barium stream); (c) rectal diameter > 6.5 cm and < 4 cm (abnormally increased and reduced compliance, respectively). Defecography is a useful diagnostic tool in fecal incontinence and should precede anal endosonography, manometry and electromyography for proper therapeutic decision-making and in risk conditions, e.g., in the patients about to undergo elective pelvic surgery.

[Kohlrausch's plica (plica transversalis recti): localization, morphology, function]. / Plica di Kohlrausch (plica trasversalis recti): localizzazione, morfologia, funzione.

The plica transversalis recti (K Kohlrausch's plica or Houston's valve) shows a preferential double (52%) rather than triple (38%) localization and is absent in as much as 16% of cases. It is alternatively found on the left and right sides, 3-4 and 8-9 cm from the anal margin respectively. Both its detection rate and radiographic features depend on the technique used as follows: (a) 92%, contour indentation and/or linear filling defect, 4 to 5 mm thick at barium enema studies; (b) 67%, the same as in (a) plus 1/3 narrowing of the maximum diameter at defecography; and (c) 90%, two opposite and overlapping folds at coronal CT. Evidence is given that neither organic nor functional anorectal conditions affect the radiographic appearance of the fold, its likely role being to fix the proximal margins during the expulsion of feces.

[The National Workshop on Defecography: anorectal deformities with a functional origin (prolapse, intussusception, rectocele)]. / II Workshop Nazionale sulla defecografia: le deformità ano-rettali con origine funzionale (prolasso, intussuscezione, rettocele).

The nonoperative treatment--i.e., rubber band ligation and sclerotherapy--of mucous rectal prolapse, rectocele and intussusception is much less expensive than conventional surgery (Lit. 325,000 vs. 6,500,000, p < 0.0001 on the average). Symptom relief, however, has been reported in 0 to 57% of cases only, according to current literature. A possible cause is represented by improper management from misdiagnosis, relying on clinical findings only, overestimating mucous prolapse in 36.37% of cases and underestimating intussusception in 14.22% of cases (with respect to defecography). Defecography is a cost-effective method (average cost: Lit. 37,000) potentially reducing failure rate after the surgical repair of rectal prolapse.

Straight ileo-anal anastomosis with myectomy as an alternative to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in restorative proctocolectomy.

Restorative proctocolectomy with various types of reservoir is widely used in the elective surgery of ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Both, advantages and disadvantages of this procedure are well known and documented. Straight ileo-anal anastomosis (IAA) yields unsatisfactory clinical results due to the lack of storage capacity of the distal ileum and the frequency of bowel movements related to high pressure ileal waves. In an attempt to create an alternative to the above procedures, we have performed a straight ileo-anal anastomosis with two rectangular (10 cm x 1 cm) myectomies down to 2 cm, above the anastomotic line. The two myectomies are spaced at 120 degrees to each other and to the mesenteric border of the ileal loop. The rationale of this approach is to reduce the peristaltic drive of the ileum by weakening the muscular wall. This study presents the results in three patients operated on with this new method in the last year.

[Dynamic radiologic study with video recording of the oral and pharyngeal stages of normal deglutition]. / Lo studio radiologico dinamico con videoregistrazione delle fasi orale e faringea della deglutizione normale.

The upsurge of interest in dynamic radiology of the oral pharyngeal phases of deglutition can be explained by: (a) the increased survival-rate in neuromuscular diseases; (b) the improved results in head and neck surgery and radiotherapy; (c) the awareness of the existence of a "silent" form of dysphagia. This paper is aimed at divulgating the radiological dynamic investigation of deglutition by videorecording, and at assessing the findings of a study on 119 consecutive non-dysphagic patients (55 males and 64 females; mean age 54 years) as a control group for future studies on dysphagic patients. Seventy-nine out of 119 subjects (66.4%) were found to be normal. Various abnormalities were observed in the remaining 40 (33.6%), such as barium penetration in the subepiglottic or supraglottic space (20 cases), dysmotility of the epiglottis (14 cases), transient and mild cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction (17 cases), diverticula (6 cases). Further studies are needed to evaluate the true significance and implication of these findings in asymptomatic patients. Finally, a more widespread use of this method is hoped for, in order to establish its diagnostic and clinical efficacy.

[Radiologic evaluation of bronchial asthma (author's transl)]. / Il bilancio radiologico nell'asma bronchiale.

The physiopathologic and anatomic findings of bronchial asthma are shortly reviewed. A description follows of the radiologic patterns based on personal experience. Only seldom the radiologic investigations provide the possibility to reach the correct diagnosis of bronchial asthma. But they always complete the clinical evaluation and allow the demonstration of the numerous and frequent complications which influence the evolution and prognosis of the disease.