Five-year single center experience of sacral neuromodulation for isolated fecal incontinence or fecal incontinence combined with low anterior resection syndrome.

PURPOSE: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for fecal incontinence (FI). For low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), however, SNM efficacy is still poorly documented. The primary aim of this study was to report on efficacy of SNM therapy for patients with isolated FI or LARS. Furthermore, we evaluated the safety of the procedure and the relevance of adequate follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed upon a prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent SNM therapy for isolated FI or LARS between January 2014 and January 2019. The Wexner and LARS scores were evaluated at baseline, during test phase, after definitive implantation and annually during follow-up. Treatment success was defined as at least 50% improvement of the Wexner score or a reduction to minor or no LARS. RESULTS: Out of 89 patients with isolated FI or LARS who had a SNM test phase, 62 patients were eligible for implantation of the permanent SNM device. At baseline, 3 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after definitive implantation the median Wexner score of all patients was 18, 2, 4.5, 5, 5, 4 and 4.5, respectively, and 18, 4, 5.5, 5, 4, 3 and 4, respectively, for patients with FI and LARS. Patients with LARS more frequently required changes in program settings. CONCLUSIONS: SNM therapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients with isolated FI and patients with FI and LARS. Adequate follow-up is essential to ensure long-term effectivity, especially for LARS patients.

Sacral neurostimulation for low anterior resection syndrome after radical resection for rectal cancer: evaluation of treatment with the LARS score.

PURPOSE: Sacral neurostimulation (SNS) has proven to be an effective treatment modality for low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of SNS on all symptoms of LARS, not merely on fecal incontinence. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate whether the LARS score could be useful as a tool to evaluate SNS treatment. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with minor or major LARS, unresponsive to conservative therapy for fecal incontinence, who underwent sacral neuromodulation for LARS at Groeninge Hospital, Kortrijk, Belgium, were prospectively enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint was the reduction in the severity of LARS. This was assessed by validated questionnaires: the LARS score and the Wexner score. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent definite implantation of the SNS device. All patients showed a substantial decrease in their Wexner scores: The mean score was reduced from 17.7 to 4.6 (Z: 2.93; p: 0.0033). Additionally, the mean LARS score dropped from 36.9 to 11.4 (Z: 2.93; p: 0.0033). Furthermore, there was a significant amelioration of all symptoms of LARS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that SNS is effective for all symptoms of LARS. The authors believe that in patients who receive SNS for LARS, it could be useful to determine the LARS score to evaluate the complexity of the symptoms and their response to treatment.

Combined kidney and intestinal transplantation in patients with enteric hyperoxaluria secondary to short bowel syndrome.

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease whereas indications for intestinal transplantation are currently restricted to patients with irreversible small bowel failure and severe complications of total parenteral nutrition (mostly shortage and infection of venous accesses, major electrolyte disturbances and liver failure). Enteric hyperoxaluria is secondary to certain intestinal diseases like intestinal resections, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and other malabsorption syndromes and can lead to end-stage renal disease requiring kidney transplantation. We report two patients suffering from renal failure due to enteric hyperoxaluria (secondary to extensive intestinal resection) in whom we elected to replace not only the kidney but also the intestine to prevent recurrence of hyperoxaluria in the transplanted kidney.