Enhanced Approach to Treating Chronic Anal Fissures: Fissurectomy with Vertical Non-full-thickness Midline Sphincterotomy and Mucosal Advancement Flap.

Objectives: Lateral internal sphincterotomy is a conventional surgical intervention for chronic anal fissures, yet the potential for postoperative anal incontinence underscores the need for an alternative approach. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with chronic fissures who underwent a combination of fissurectomy, vertical non-full thickness midline sphincterotomy (VNMS), and mucosal advancement flap (MAF), as a means of mitigating the risk of incontinence. Methods: This retrospective analysis included forty-six consecutive patients with chronic anal fissures, unresponsive to topical diltiazem, who underwent fissurectomy combined with VNMS and MAF between April 2018 and May 2023. Primary outcome measures encompassed fissure healing rates. Continence was assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), and manometric assessments were conducted before the procedure and three months postoperatively. Results: With a median follow-up of 27 months, there were no postoperative complications, and the overall fissure healing rate reached 96% (44/46). At three months post-procedure, FISI scores were reduced to 0, with no instances of fecal soiling. Anal resting pressure exhibited a significant reduction at 3 months [pre-op: 133 (95% CI, 128-150) vs. 3 mo: 109 (95% CI, 100-117) cmH2O; p = 0.01]. Similarly, maximum anal squeeze pressure showed a significant decrease three months post-surgery [pre-op: 317 cmH2O (95% CI, 294-380) vs. 3 mo: 291 cmH2O (95% CI, 276-359), p = 0.03]. Conclusions: The combination of fissurectomy, VNMS, and MAF proved to be an effective approach for chronic anal fissures, yielding favorable medium-term outcomes without postoperative anal incontinence.

Comparison of the Fecal Incontinence Severity Scores between Self-administration by Patients and an Oral Interview by a Physician.

Objectives: To compare patients' self-administered responses to the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) questionnaire (A1) with their responses to physician's oral interview (A3). Methods: Patients (n=100: mean age: 72 years; 66 women) with FI completed the FISI and the modified FISI (with written explanations) questionnaires, followed by a physician interview. To identify a threshold for the rating gap between A1 and A3, we calculated each patient's mean difference in the FISI scores. Results: There was no significant difference in the FISI scores between A1 and A3. A rating gap existed in the FISI scores (mean difference=8.9). It occurred in 37% of the patients, making its threshold 9. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age and no history of pelvic floor surgery were independently associated with the presence of a rating gap in the FISI scores. The in-coincidence of ticked boxes to all types of leakage between the self-administered responses and those by physician's oral history was 49% (197/400). Older age was associated with the in-coincidence of a ticked box between the assessment results of gas or solid stool leakage. Conclusions: Some non-negligible discrepancy existed between patients' self-administered responses and their responses to physician's oral interview, especially in older patients.

Comparison of Safety and Efficacy between Laparoscopic Ventral Rectopexy and Delorme's Procedure for External Rectal Prolapse in Nonagenarians.

Objectives: This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) in nonagenarian patients with external rectal prolapse (ERP) compared to Delorme's procedure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, including nonagenarian patients who underwent either LVR or Delorme's procedure, comparing outcomes such as morbidity, length of hospital stay (LOS), and recurrence rates. Results: Between September 2009 and August 2023, 22 patients (median age 91, range 90-94 years) underwent LVR, while 12 patients (median age 91, range 90-96 years) received Delorme's procedure. Baseline characteristics, including sex ratio, parity, American Society of Anesthesiology grade, and Body Mass Index, did not significantly differ between the groups. LVR had a significantly longer operating time but lower blood loss than Delorme's procedure. Postoperative LOS was significantly shorter for LVR patients (median 1, range 1-3 days) compared to Delorme's procedure patients (median 2.5, range 1-13 days; P = 0.001). Notably, no significant morbidity occurred in the LVR group, while one case of delirium and another of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome were observed in the Delorme's procedure group. Recurrence rates were lower in the LVR group, with no recurrences during a median follow-up of 23 months (range 1-65 months), compared to one recurrence at 2 months during a median follow-up of 34 months (range 1-96 months) in the Delorme's procedure group. Conclusions: LVR is a safe and effective surgical option for nonagenarian ERP patients, showing favorable outcomes in terms of morbidity, LOS, and recurrence rates compared to Delorme's procedure.