Pleasurable and problematic receptive anal intercourse and diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.

The ability to experience pleasurable sexual activity is important for human health. Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) is a common, though frequently stigmatized, pleasurable sexual activity. Little is known about how diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus and their treatments affect RAI. Engaging in RAI with gastrointestinal disease can be difficult due to the unpredictability of symptoms and treatment-related toxic effects. Patients might experience sphincter hypertonicity, gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety, altered pelvic blood flow from structural disorders, decreased sensation from cancer-directed therapies or body image issues from stoma creation. These can result in problematic RAI - encompassing anodyspareunia (painful RAI), arousal dysfunction, orgasm dysfunction and decreased sexual desire. Therapeutic strategies for problematic RAI in patients living with gastrointestinal diseases and/or treatment-related dysfunction include pelvic floor muscle strengthening and stretching, psychological interventions, and restorative devices. Providing health-care professionals with a framework to discuss pleasurable RAI and diagnose problematic RAI can help improve patient outcomes. Normalizing RAI, affirming pleasure from RAI and acknowledging that the gastrointestinal system is involved in sexual pleasure, sexual function and sexual health will help transform the scientific paradigm of sexual health to one that is more just and equitable.

Perianal disease: Updates and controversies in closing the gaps.

Perianal complications are common and morbid in children with Crohn's disease. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, the presentation and diagnosis, evaluation and management. We focus on updates such as the increasing frequency of biologic medications and MRI for evaluation. We also highlight controversies on the timing and approaches to surgical techniques. Finally, perianal disease requires the coordination of multidisciplinary care with nursing, radiology, gastroenterology, and surgery to optimize outcomes - both medical and patient-centered.

Natural course of perianal abscess in infants: a real-world study.

Natural course of perianal abscess (PA) in infancy remains obscure. This study aimed to investigate the natural course of infants with PA after conservative treatment. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in infants with PA who were treated conservatively (due to the parents' refusal of surgery), for more than 2 months between 2014 and 2020 at a single tertiary center. 153 patients (149 boys and 4 girls) were identified. The median follow-up was 5.3 years (range 3-8.2 years). Initially, 119 patients (77.8%) were completely cured by conservative treatment, and 34 (22.2%) failed. Among the 34 patients, 23 continued conservative treatment (20 cure, 3 fistula formation) and 11 underwent surgery. After conservative treatment, the rate of fistula formation, abscess recurrence, and new-onset abscess were 15.0%, 4.6%, and 6.5%, respectively. Overall, 139 patients (90.8%) were cured conservatively without surgery, and 11 (7.2%) underwent surgical management. In addition, 3 (2.0%) patients developed fistula-in-ano (under observation). PA in infants may be a time-limited and self-limited condition. Conservative management should be the first choice of treatment in most cases. Longer periods of conservative treatment may achieve better clinical outcomes in selected cases. There will be a percentage of patients (about 10%) that would require surgical treatment.

Levator Ani Syndrome Presenting with Vaginal Pain.

Levator ani syndrome (LAS), also known as levator ani spasm, puborectalis syndrome, chronic proctalgia, pyriformis syndrome and pelvic tension myalgia, produces chronic anal pain. The levator ani muscle is susceptible to the development of myofascial pain syndrome, and trigger points may be elicited on physical examination. The pathophysiology remains to be fully delineated. The diagnosis of LAS is suggested primarily by the clinical history, physical examination and the exclusion of organic disease that can produce recurrent or chronic proctalgia. Digital massage, sitz bath, electrogalvanic stimulation and biofeedback are the treatment modalities most frequently described in the literature. Pharmacological management includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, diazepam, amitriptyline, gabapentin and botulinum toxin. The evaluation of these patients can be challenging due to a diversity of causative factors. The authors present the case of a nulliparous woman in her mid-30s presenting with acute onset of lower abdominal and rectal pain radiating to her vagina. There was no history of trauma, inflammatory bowel disease, anal fissure or altered bowel habit. Each pain episode lasted longer than 20 min and was exacerbated by sitting. Neurological examination showed no evidence of neurological dysfunction. Rectal examination was unremarkable. During vaginal examination, palpation of the levator ani muscles elicited pain indicating pelvic floor dysfunction. Laboratory investigations including a full blood count and C reactive protein were within normal range. Further investigation with a transabdominal ultrasound scan, CT of the abdomen and pelvis and MRI of the lumbar spine were unremarkable. She commenced treatment with amitriptyline 20 mg once daily. She was referred for pelvic floor physiotherapy. Functional pain syndromes, such as LAS, should be regarded as diagnoses of exclusion and considered only after a thorough evaluation has been performed to rule out structural causes of pain. Knowledge of the pelvic floor and pelvic wall muscles may enable the physician to identify LAS, a possible cause of chronic pelvic pain.

[Proctology]. / Proktologie.

This article provides a practice-oriented overview of the most common proctological diseases: Anal eczema, hemorrhoidal disease, anal thrombosis, marisca, anal abscess and fistula, and anal fissure. Definitions and etiopathogenesis, clinic and diagnostics, and current therapy are presented.

Experiencia en cirugía de condilomas anales en mayores de 15 años / Experience in anal condyloma surgery in patients older than 15 years

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la experiencia en cirugía electiva de condilomas anales en pacientes mayores de 15 años en un hospital terciario de la Región Metropolitana. Material y Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo y descriptivo, en el cual se analizan las intervenciones quirúrgicas electivas realizadas entre 2008 a 2021. Resultados: Dentro del período analizado se obtuvo 165 cirugías de condilomas anales, lo que corresponde a 137 pacientes en total. El 85% de los pacientes son de sexo masculino, el 68% de los pacientes son VIH positivo, un 87% de los pacientes MSM (hombres que tienen sexo con otros hombres) son VIH positivo, el 34% de los pacientes tiene antecedente de ETS, el 46% de los pacientes recibió terapia tópica como tratamiento preoperatorio o posoperatorio. Un 25% de los pacientes presenta recidiva en su historia personal, un 21% de los pacientes presenta lesiones anales intraepiteliales de alto grado, un 6% presenta carcinoma escamoso infiltrante. No hubo mortalidad descrita. Discusión: El presente estudio, describe la experiencia en cirugía de condilomas de un hospital terciario de la Región Metropolitana de Chile, cuya población corresponde a un estrato socioeconómico medio y bajo. Se logra describir a la población que es intervenida de condilomas acuminados, además de sus resultados quirúrgicos precoces y a largo plazo. Conclusión: El presente estudio, presenta una población de 137 pacientes operados de condilomas anales, a partir de los hallazgos de la cirugía. Se cumple el objetivo del estudio de caracterizar en un período de 12 años los resultados quirúrgicos de dicha serie, algo no reportado previamente en la literatura chilena.

Objective: To describe the experience in elective surgery for anal condylomas in patients over 15 years of age in a tertiary hospital in the Metropolitan Region. Materials and Method: Retrospective and descriptive observational study about elective surgical interventions performed between 2008 to 2021. Results: Within the analyzed period, 165 anal warts surgeries were obtained, corresponding to 137 patients. 85% of the patients are male, 68% are HIV positive, 87% of the MSM patients are HIV positive, 34% of the patients have a history of STDs, 46% of the patients received topical therapy as preoperative or postoperative treatment. 25% present recurrence in their personal history, 21% present high-grade anal intraepithelial lesions, 6% present infiltrating squamous carcinoma. There was no reported mortality. Discussion: The present study describes the experience in condyloma surgery in a tertiary hospital in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, whose population corresponds to a medium and low socioeconomic stratum. It is possible to describe the population that undergoes surgery for this reason, in addition to its early and long-term surgical results. Conclusion: The present study presents a population of 137 patients operated on for anal condylomas, based on the findings of the surgery. The objective of the study to characterize the surgical results of this series over a 12-year period is fulfilled, something not previously reported in the Chilean literature.

Benign anorectal disease in children: What do we know?

Benign anorectal disease refers to a diverse group of frequent anorectal complaints that cause considerable discomfort, disability, and often constitute a significant problem for the child and his or her family. Hemorrhoids, fissures, rectal prolapse, and perianal abscess and fistulas are the most common anorectal disorders in pediatric population and their appearance may be age-specific. Although they generally follow a benign course, a careful examination must be performed in order to exclude other serious and complicated underlying pathology. Their diagnosis is based on the patient's medical history, physical examination, endoscopy, and imaging. Moreover, the management of these disorders includes medical and surgical treatment options, and if they are treated promptly and properly may be limited and short lived. This review presents the currently available data in the literature on the diverse aspects of these disorders, including the definition, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, indications for surgery, and long-term outcomes.

A Pain in the Butt: Hemorrhoids, Fissures, Fistulas, and Other Anorectal Syndromes.

Painful and bothersome anorectal syndromes can be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians because structural and functional abnormalities may often coexist and require a multidisciplinary approach to management. Although it is often difficult to attribute all of a patient's anorectal symptoms to a singular disorder with definitive intervention and cure, improving quality of life, treating coexistent conditions such as functional constipation and/or defecation disorders, addressing psychological comorbidities if present, and confirming there is no evidence of inflammatory or malignant conditions are top priorities.

Perianal thrombosis: no need for surgery.

AIM: There is little evidence for the best therapy for perianal thrombosis. No prospective trials exist. Even quality of retrospective data is low, due to low patient numbers or vague follow-up data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six hundred nineteen patients with thrombosis of internal or external hemorrhoids who presented in our clinic between March 2017 and August 2018 were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated conservatively, with sitz baths and oral pain medication, if needed. No surgery was performed. Follow-up data was obtained by personal examination. Data was gathered prospectively, and data analysis was retrospective. RESULTS: Five hundred four patients had perianal thrombosis (81.4%), and 115 patients had thrombosed hemorrhoids. Mean pain on a numerical rating scale (0-10) was 3.8 for perianal thrombosis and 5.2 for thrombosed hemorrhoids. Five hundred forty-eight patients (88.5%) did not need a sick leave. On follow-up, patients stated that their pain had largely resolved after 5 days and completely disappeared after 10 days. Local recurrence rate after perianal thrombosis was 6.3%. CONCLUSION: Perianal thrombosis and thrombosed hemorrhoids heal well without surgery. There is no evidence for advantages surgical therapy could offer.

The role of GSTM1 gene polymorphism in pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction.

Constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction may be caused by mechanical or functional causes. This complication is a debilitating disease that needs proper and timely treatment. Many studies have shown that there is a direct link between constipation and intestinal cancer. One of the most effective ways to prevent or diagnose intestinal cancer is through genetic studies. Evaluation of people's polymorphism shows how much they are at risk for cancer. Therefore, in this study, the GSTM1 gene polymorphism was evaluated in patients with constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction to assess better and manage this disease and investigate the possibility of anorectal cancer in these people. In this regard, 40 people with constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction were compared with 40 healthy people. In the case group (patients), in addition to demographic and clinical evaluations, the anorectal manometric test was used to diagnose the pathology of the disease. Results showed that out of 40 patients with constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction, 5 cases (12.5%) had megarectum, 7 cases (17.5%) had anismus, 10 cases (25%) had Hirschsprung's disease, 5 cases (12.5%) had descending perineum syndrome, 6 cases (15%) had rectal prolapse, 4 cases (10%) had enterocele, and 3 cases (7.5%) were with rectocele. Also, the results of GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism showed that patients with constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction were almost two times more exposed to the null genotype than the control group (P <0.04). Therefore, in people with both constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction and null genotype (i.e., deletion in the GSTM1 gene), because they do not have glutathione-S transferase, they appear to be at higher risk for anorectal cancer than healthy people with the same genotype.

[Anorectal and perineal pain]. / Anorektale und perineale Schmerzen.

Anorectal and perineal pain Abstract. Anorectal pain is a common clinical challenge in the outpatient office. Anal fissures, anal venous thrombosis, proctitis or neoplasms are frequent etiologies for proctalgia. After exclusion of somatic disorders by diagnostic imaging and endoscopy, functional anorectal pain or pathologies like interstitial cystitits, chronic prostatitis, coccycodynia or pudendal neuralgia should be considered. The Rome IV criteria distinguish proctalgia fugax, a sharp paroxysmal pain lasting for maximum 30 minutes, and the levator ani syndrom. Latter is characterized by a tender puborectal muscle on digital rectal examination and pain lasting for more than 30 minutes. Treatment consists in reassurance, sitz bathes, topical vasodilators and anal massage. Biofeedback is a further option for levator ani syndrome. Painful palpation of the ox coccygis leads to the diagnosis of coccycodynia, a non-functional disorder. Therapy consists in anti-inflammatory medications, os coccygis mobilisation and infiltration therapy. Urologic chronic pelvic pain (chronic prostatitis and interstitial cystitis) as well as pudendal neuralgia, both neurogenic pelvic pain syndromes, can cause pain radiating into the after and perineum. The diagnosis and discrimination from functional rectal pain is difficult. Patients with neurogenic anorectal pain are best treated with anti-inflammatory medications, pain modulating antidepressives, anticonvulsives or local infiltration therapy. Interdisciplinary management of complex pain patients is mandatory.

Anogenital giant condyloma in an infant with liver transplantation.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 were detected in a 3-year-old girl with extensive anogenital condylomata. Although sexual abuse must be considered, non-sexual transmission is evident in at least 57% of children with anogenital warts. Perinatal transmission may occur in approximately 24.5% of infants born to HPV-positive mothers. We present an immunosuppressed child with giant condylomata and discuss transmission, work up, and treatment.

Modern Management of Perianal Crohn's Disease: A Review.

Perianal Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex manifestation of CD that affects approximately 10% of patients. The spectrum of disease is quite variable, ranging from relatively mild disease to severe, aggressive manifestations that result in frequent hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, and poor quality of life. Despite significant recent advances in surgical and medical management, treatment remains challenging and frequently requires a multidisciplinary medical-surgical approach. The goal of this article is to review the current literature regarding the work-up, treatment, and future directions of therapy. Crucial features of effective management include the precise identification of manifestations, control of sepsis, limiting rectal inflammation, frequently with use of antitumor necrosis factor agents, and avoidance of extensive surgery.

Dangers of delayed diagnosis of perianal abscess and undrained perianal sepsis in Fournier's gangrene: a case series.

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressing infective necrotising fasciitis of the perianal, perineal and genital region. It is characterised by its aggressive nature and high mortality rates of between 15% and 50%. While it has been commonly found to primarily develop from urological sources, there have been increasing reports of the role of colorectal sources as the underlying aetiology of FG. Presented is a case series of four FG presentations at a single institution during a 12-month period as a result of underlying untreated perianal disease highlighting its dangers in progressing to a deadly infection, advocating for early and aggressive surgical debridement, and the role of adjunct scoring systems, such as Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis, in guiding clinical diagnosis.

Management of perianal abscesses in infants without general anaesthesia: a systematic review of the literature.

Perianal abscesses are a common surgical presentation in infants. Historically, general anaesthesia (GA) has been used to facilitate incision and drainage, with or without exploration for a fistula-in-ano (FIA). This review aims to assess outcomes following management of perianal abscesses without GA in infants less than 24 months old. We aim to identify the success of management without GA. Using PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Studies including infants less than 24 months with perianal abscesses managed without GA were reviewed. The primary outcome was the number of patients requiring GA following initial management without GA. Secondary outcomes included rates of recurrent perianal abscesses, rates of progression to FIA and time to cure. Nine studies, involving 1049 infants less than 24 months old met inclusion criteria. A total of 1039 (99.0%) were males. Study design consisted of one prospective case series of 18 patients, and eight retrospective cohort studies. There were no randomized control trials. A total of 1037 (98.9%) patients were initially managed without GA. Of these, 59 (5.6%) were documented to subsequently require a general anaesthetic. Treatment modalities included antibiotics, regular baths, needle aspiration, incision and drainage under local anaesthesia, hainosankyuto and fibroblast growth factor. A total of 790 (75.3%) healed primarily without further intervention. A total of 243 (23.2%) were documented to have a recurrence or progression to FIA. All patients who required a subsequent general anaesthetic had progressed to FIA. Despite the lack of well-designed prospective studies, existing evidence supports management of perianal abscesses without initial GA in infants, with more than 75% healing completely. Further research aimed at standardizing care and confirming the safety and efficacy of initial non-operative management are warranted, and may potentially reduce the number of unnecessary initial and subsequent clinical interventions.