Feasibility Study of Transanal Irrigation Using a Colostomy Irrigation System in Patients With Low Anterior Resection Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Low anterior resection syndrome has a negative impact on quality of life. Intestinal irrigation is a method of lavage consisting of a scheduled evacuation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate functional and quality-of-life outcomes in patients with low anterior resection syndrome after transanal irrigation using a colostomy irrigation system. DESIGN: This was a prospective case series. SETTINGS: This study presents a single-center experience at a tertiary oncological center in an upper-middle-income country. PATIENTS: Patients classified as having minor or major low anterior resection syndrome 12 months after their operation were selected. INTERVENTIONS: Transanal irrigation was performed using an ostomy irrigation kit. Questionnaires assessing patients' bowel function (low anterior resection syndrome and Wexner score) and quality of life (Short Form-36 questionnaire) were applied before and after treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were low anterior resection syndrome score and quality-of-life improvement after a 12-month treatment. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients included, 20 had major and 2 had minor low anterior resection syndrome, with a median score of 39, especially high rates of incontinence for liquid stool (21; 95.5%), clustering (21; 95.5%), and urgency (17; 77.3%). All patients successfully completed the 3-day training, and there were no complications during the treatment. After the 12-month period, the median score was 8, with 90% of the patients classified as having "no syndrome" and great improvement in all domains of this score. The most improved quality-of-life sections were patient vitality (p = 0.025) and physical (p = 0.002), social (p = 0.001), and emotional aspects (p = 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its small sample size and the limited follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a safe implementation protocol of an ostomy irrigation device for transanal irrigation. It also adds to the literature that transanal irrigation is a safe, effective, and easily implemented procedure for patients with low anterior resection syndrome with a significant improvement in quality of life. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B563.ESTUDIO DE FACTIBILIDAD DE LA IRRIGACIÓN TRANSANAL UTILIZANDO EL SISTEMA DE IRRIGACIÓN PARA COLOSTOMÍA EN PACIENTES CON SÍNDROME DE RESECCIÓN ANTERIOR BAJAANTECEDENTES:El síndrome de resección anterior baja tiene un impacto negativo en la calidad de vida de los pacientes. La irrigación intestinal es un método de lavado que consiste en evacuaciones programadas.OBJETIVOS:Evaluar los resultados de la funcionalidad e impacto en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con síndrome de resección anterior y baja posterior a la irrigación transanal utilizando un sistema de irrigación de colostomía.DISEÑO:Es estudio prospectivo de una serie de casos.ESCENARIO:En este estudio se muestra la experiencia de un centro oncológico de tercer nivel en un país en vías de desarrollo.PACIENTES:Aquellos clasificados como síndrome con afección en menor o mayor grado doce meses después de la cirugía.METODO:Se efectuó irrigación transanal utilizando un equipo de irrigación de estomas. Se aplicaron cuestionarios para valorar la función intestinal de los pacientes (síndrome de resección anterior baja y la escala de Wexner) y para calidad de vida (Cuestionario Corto-36) antes y después del tratamiento.EVALUACION DE LOS RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES:Los principales resultados se obtuvieron de la escala del síndrome de resección baja y la mejoría en la calidad vida doce meses después de tratamiento.RESULTADOS:De los veintidós pacientes incluidos, veinte presentaron manifestaciones mayores del síndrome de resección baja y dos, manifestaciones menores. Con una media de treinta y nueve, se encontraron, especialmente, altos índices de incontinencia a líquidos (21; 95'5%) hiperdefecación "clustering" (21; 95'5%) y urgencia (17; 77'3%). Todos los pacientes completaron en forma satisfactoria el entrenamiento de tres días sin presentarse complicaciones durante el tratamiento. Al término del mes doce la media fue de ocho, con el 90% de los pacientes clasificados como "sin síndrome" y se observó una mejoría substancial en todos los puntos de la evaluación. Las secciones de calidad de vida que mostraron una mejoría significativa fueron: la vitalidad del paciente (p = 0'025), física (p = 0'002), social (p = 0'001) y emocional (p = 0'001).LIMITACIONES:El tamaño de la muestra es pequeño y el tiempo de seguimiento corto.CONCLUSIONES:Este estudio muestra la implementación de un protocolo seguro para la irrigación de estomas mediante un dispositivo transanal. Además contribuye con el concepto en la literatura de que la seguridad de la irrigación transanal es seguro, efectivo y facilmente reproducible para pacientes con síndrome de resección anterior baja con una mejoría significativa en la calidad de vida. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B563. (Traducción-Dr. Miguel Esquivel-Herrera).

Impact of surgical indication on patient outcomes and compliance with enhanced recovery program for colorectal surgery: A Francophone multicenter retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The impact of surgical indication on compliance with enhanced recovery program (ERP) and on outcomes has never been assessed. This study aims to assess the impact of surgical indication (malignant vs benign) on postoperative outcomes and ERP compliance. METHODS: A multicenter nationwide database was analyzed. Patients who underwent colorectal surgery for benign disease and those who underwent colorectal surgery for cancer were compared. Inclusion criteria were elective colorectal resection with anastomosis. ERP components, postoperative morbidity, and hospital length of hospital stay data were collected. RESULTS: Among the 6472 patients registered in the database between October 2012 and June 2018, 4528 patients were included; 2647 in the malignant group and 1881 in the benign group. The ERP compliance over 70% was not different between groups. Postoperative morbidity rate was higher in the malignant group (22.5% vs 19.3%; P = .009) but not confirmed in multivariate analysis. Patients in the malignant group were more often readmitted after discharge, 6.6% vs 4.6% (P = .004). The mean LOS was 6.3 ± 5.0 days in the malignant group and 5.4 ± 4.7 days in the benign group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Indication for colorectal surgery did not significantly influence peri-operative management and postoperative major complications, in patients managed within an enhanced recovery program.

Prevalence of lymphogranuloma venereum among anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis-positive MSM using pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the prevalence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis-positive French men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Here, we describe the clinical, biological and behavioural characteristics of these patients. METHODS: Laboratories throughout French metropolitan areas performing routine testing for C. trachomatis sent positive anorectal specimens to the National Reference Centre for bacterial STIs for LGV real-time PCR targeting the pmpH gene. Identification of the C. trachomatis genovar was performed by ompA gene sequencing. For each patient, clinical, biological and sexual behaviour data were collected after obtaining written informed consent. RESULTS: In 2017, 486 anorectal C. trachomatis-positive specimens from MSM PrEP users were analysed. A strain of genovar L was detected in 91 cases (18.7%). Patients with LGV were significantly more symptomatic, had more sexual partners and more concurrent syphilis compared with their non-LGV counterparts. OmpA gene sequencing, successful in two-thirds of anorectal C. trachomatis-positive specimens, showed that the LGV cases were mainly of variant L2b (n=33), followed by genovar L2 (n=27) and genetic L2b ompA variants (n=16). In 11 cases, the results indicated the occurrence of genetic exchange between L and non-L genovars. CONCLUSIONS: LGV was diagnosed in 18.7% of anorectal C. trachomatis-positive specimens from French MSM using PrEP. LGV testing should be carried out for MSM diagnosed with chlamydia and with a large number of sexual partners, high-risk practices and anorectal symptoms. These patients should be presumptively treated as having LGV. This is the first surveillance study of LGV among MSM PrEP users and monitoring should continue.

The low anterior resection syndrome in a reference population: prevalence and predictive factors in the Netherlands.

AIM: The low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) severely affects quality of life (QoL) after colorectal cancer surgery. There are no data about these complaints and the association with QoL in a reference population. The aim of this study was to assess LARS and the association with QoL in a reference population. METHODS: Six hundred patients who visited the outpatient clinic because of general or trauma surgical indications were asked to participate in this study. They received an invitation letter containing three validated questionnaires to assess LARS (assessed with the LARS score) and both general [European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30] and colorectal-specific (EORTC QLQ-CR29) QoL. RESULTS: Five hundred and one respondents could be included for the analyses. The median age at inclusion was 68 years and 47.3% were men. Major LARS was observed in 15% of patients (11.4% in men and 18.9% in women, P = 0.021). Women reported more urgency (P = 0.070) and incontinence for both flatus (P < 0.001) and stool (P = 0.063) compared to men. In univariate analyses, women reported major LARS significantly more often than men (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.10-3.01). Patients with major LARS scored significantly worse in most QoL domains compared to patients with no/minor LARS. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating major LARS and the association with QoL in a reference population of patients without colorectal cancer. Our data can assist in the interpretation of LARS in past and future research about abdominal complaints after colorectal cancer surgery.

Effects of psychosensory stimulation on anal pressures: Effects of alfuzosin.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to explain the lack of clarity in the ways in which anxiety and depression, which are common in defecatory disorders (DD), may contribute to the disorder. In this study, we evaluate the effects of mental stress and relaxation on anal pressures and the mechanisms thereof. METHODS: In 38 healthy women and 36 DD patients, rectoanal pressures were assessed at rest and during mental stressors (ie, word-color conflict [Stroop] and mental arithmetic tests) and mental relaxation, before and after randomization to placebo or the adrenergic α1 -antagonist alfuzosin. KEY RESULTS: During the baseline Stroop test, the anal pressure increased by 6 ± 13 mm Hg (mean ± SD, P = 0.004) in healthy women and 9 ± 10 mm Hg (P = 0.0001) in constipated women. During mental arithmetic, the anal pressure increased in healthy (4 ± 8 mm Hg, P = 0.002) and constipated women (5 ± 9 mm Hg, P = 0.004). After relaxation, anal pressure declined (P = 0.0004) by 3 ± 4 mm Hg in DD patients but not in controls. Alfuzosin reduced (P = 0.0001) anal resting pressure (by 31 ± 19 mm Hg) vs placebo (16 ± 18 mm Hg). However, during the postdrug Stroop test, anal pressure increased (P = 0.0001) in participants who received alfuzosin but not placebo. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: In healthy controls and DD patients, mental stressors likely increased anal pressure by contracting the internal anal sphincter; relaxation reduced anal pressure in DD patients. Alfuzosin reduced anal resting pressure but did not block the Stroop-mediated contractile response, which suggests that this response is not entirely mediated by adrenergic α1 receptors.

Validity and reliability of the measure yourself medical outcome profile 2 (MYMOP2) questionnaire among Turkish patients having anorectal disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 (MYMOP2) is a patient-generated outcome measure allowing patients to select the problems that are the most important to them and that they want to address, and it measures the effects of the problem from a wide range of health care interventions. This study aimed to translate the questionnaire into Turkish language (Turkish MYMOP-TMYMOP) and add this clinically useful measure to Turkish medical practice by assessing its validity and reliability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty volunteers with anorectal disorders were prospectively included into the study. Each patient was enrolled into a pelvic floor training biofeedback program, specific to their anorectal symptomatology. The subjects were administered both the Nottingham Health Profile and the TMYMOP2 questionnaires before the treatment session (initial visit) and at the control follow-up visits (the first and second months, via e-mail or telephone calls). RESULTS: The TMYMOP2 questionnaire was shown to be moderately valid (the Pearson correlation coefficient score between the total scores of the subgroups of the two questionnaires were 0.335 and 0.642, respectively, p<0.05) and highly reliable (the Cronbach's alfa coefficient score between the total scores of the subgroups of the two questionnaires were 0.77, 0.82, and 0.88 in the beginning and at the first and second month follow-up visits, respectively). CONCLUSION: The TMYMOP2 was shown to be a low-to-moderately valid and a highly reliable scale. Because it is brief and short to complete, it might be an important and free-to-use tool to measure the diseases, and it can enhance the patient-centered care within the Turkish health care context.

Dutch validation of the low anterior resection syndrome score.

AIM: The aim of this study was to validate the Dutch translation of the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score in a population of Dutch rectal cancer patients. METHOD: Patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer received the LARS score questionnaire, a single quality of life (QoL) category question and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A subgroup of patients received the LARS score twice to assess the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients were included in the analysis, identified in six Dutch centres. The response rate was 62.0%. The percentage of patients who reported 'major LARS' was 59.4%. There was a high proportion of patients with a perfect or moderate fit between the QoL category question and the LARS score, showing a good convergent validity. The LARS score was able to discriminate between patients with or without neoadjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.003), between total and partial mesorectal excision (P = 0.008) and between age groups (P = 0.039). There was a statistically significant association between a higher LARS score and an impaired function on the global QoL subscale and the physical, role, emotional and social functioning subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. The test-retest reliability of the LARS score was good, with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.79. CONCLUSION: The good psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the LARS score are comparable overall to the earlier validations in other countries. Therefore, the Dutch translation can be considered to be a valid tool for assessing LARS in Dutch rectal cancer patients.

The role of social context in symptom appraisal and help-seeking among people with lung or colorectal symptoms: A qualitative interview study.

Prolonged diagnostic intervals are associated with poorer outcomes, and the patient interval appears to be a substantial contributor to the overall length of the diagnostic interval. This study sought to understand how the broader context of people's lives influenced symptom appraisal and help-seeking, comparing experiences by length of the patient interval. Patients referred with a suspicion of lung or colorectal cancer were invited to complete a questionnaire about their symptoms, with 26 respondents purposively sampled to take part in a semi-structured interview about their patient intervals. Embodied experience, appraisal, help-seeking decision-making and consultation were identified as component stages of the patient interval, with the factors affecting movement between these stages located in one of four contextual domains: individual experience, interpersonal relationships, healthcare system interactions and social and temporal context. The length of the patient interval was related to the type of symptom(s) experienced, discussion of symptoms with others and the social responsibilities people held during symptomatic periods. A contextual model of the patient interval illustrates the stages and domains of this interval, as grounded in the data from this study. The model has potential application to future studies examining the patient interval for a range of symptoms.

Effects of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy on anorectal functions along with quality of life of the patient.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy is the most commonly performed major gynecological operation for both benign and malign gynecologic conditions. After hysterectomy, although some investigators have declared an increased incidence of urinary and anorectal dysfunction, some others could not show any connection. METHODS: The voluntary patients were divided in two groups: abdominal hysterectomy (Group 1) and vaginal hysterectomy (Group 2). Anal manometry and all the other examinations of the patients were performed at the Department of General Surgery Endoscopy Unit of Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine. RESULTS: When the quality of life of the patients was assessed before the operation and on the 12th post-operative month via the SF-36 form; it can be seen that body pain parameters of the patients in Group 1 had significantly improved and there is no statistical difference in other parameters. When the effect of hysterectomy on the quality of life of the patients was evaluated by the "Cleveland Clinic Global Quality of Life" form, the statistically significant improvement in the quality of life of the patients in Group 2 was observed. CONCLUSION: If the type of operation (vaginal or abdominal) is performed due to benign causes, it does not affect the urinary and anorectal functions of the patients. Depending on the decrease of complaints of the patients, it has a positive effect on the quality of life.

Biological and Behavioral Factors Associated With Positive Chlamydia Retests.

BACKGROUND: Repeat chlamydia detection after treatment is common, and there is concern that treatment failure may be a cause. METHODS: Within a randomized trial, we established a prospective cohort of 600 participants with anogenital chlamydia diagnoses (200 each of women, heterosexual men, and men who have sex with men [MSM]). Participants were invited for repeat testing at 3 months and to complete a behavioral survey at 4 months. Positive samples were analyzed for organism DNA load and genovar. We estimated repeat chlamydia positivity, reinfection and treatment failure rates, and investigated the biological and behavioral factors associated with a repeat positive test. RESULTS: A total of 290 participants (100 women, 89 heterosexual men, 101 MSM) were retested at 1 to 4 months, with 43 repeat positives, including 26 classed as reinfection and 9 as treatment failures. Comparing MSM with heterosexual men and women combined, repeat positivity was higher (20.8% vs 11.6%, P = 0.04), and treatment failure was higher (6.9% vs 1.1%, P = 0.01), but there was no difference in reinfection rates (11.9% vs 7.4%, P = 0.21). Among MSM, the odds of repeat positivity increased by 90% with each additional log organism load in the original specimen (baseline) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.2). Among heterosexuals, the odds of repeat positivity decreased by 10% with each additional week delay in being retested for chlamydia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Positive retests were more common among MSM than heterosexuals. Treatment failure was more common in MSM with rectal chlamydia, reinforcing concerns about azithromycin treatment failure.

Social activity and relationship changes experienced by people with bowel and bladder dysfunction following spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory qualitative. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of bowel and bladder dysfunction on social activities and relationships in people with spinal cord injury living in the community. SETTING: People living with spinal cord injury experiencing bowel and bladder dysfunction. METHODS: Participants were recruited through the Australian Quadriplegic Association Victoria. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were undertaken with purposively selected participants to ensure representation of age, gender, spinal cord injury level and compensation status. A thematic analysis was performed to interpret patient experiences. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants took part in the study. Bladder and bowel dysfunction altered relationships because of issues with intimacy, strained partner relationships and role changes for family and friends. A lack of understanding from friends about bladder and bowel dysfunction caused frustration, as this impairment was often responsible for variable attendance at social activities. Issues with the number, location, access and cleanliness of bathrooms in public areas and in private residences negatively affected social engagement. Social activities were moderated by illness, such as urinary tract infections, rigid and unreliable bowel routines, stress and anxiety about incontinence and managing the public environment, and due to continuous changes in plans related to bowel and bladder issues. Social support and adaptation fostered participation in social activities. CONCLUSION: Tension exists between managing bowel and bladder dysfunction and the desire to participate in social activities. Multiple intersecting factors negatively affected the social relationships and activities of people with spinal cord injury and bowel and bladder dysfunction.

Continued Benefit to Rectal Separation for Prostate Radiation Therapy: Final Results of a Phase III Trial.

PURPOSE: SpaceOAR, a Food and Drug Administration-approved hydrogel intended to create a rectal-prostate space, was evaluated in a single-blind phase III trial of image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy. A total of 222 men were randomized 2:1 to the spacer or control group and received 79.2 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions to the prostate with or without the seminal vesicles. The present study reports the final results with a median follow-up period of 3 years. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Cumulative (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0) toxicity was evaluated using the log-rank test. Quality of life (QOL) was examined using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), and the mean changes from baseline in the EPIC domains were tested using repeated measures models. The proportions of men with minimally important differences (MIDs) in each domain were tested using repeated measures logistic models with prespecified thresholds. RESULTS: The 3-year incidence of grade ≥1 (9.2% vs 2.0%; P=.028) and grade ≥2 (5.7% vs 0%; P=.012) rectal toxicity favored the spacer arm. Grade ≥1 urinary incontinence was also lower in the spacer arm (15% vs 4%; P=.046), with no difference in grade ≥2 urinary toxicity (7% vs 7%; P=0.7). From 6 months onward, bowel QOL consistently favored the spacer group (P=.002), with the difference at 3 years (5.8 points; P<.05) meeting the threshold for a MID. The control group had a 3.9-point greater decline in urinary QOL compared with the spacer group at 3 years (P<.05), but the difference did not meet the MID threshold. At 3 years, more men in the control group than in the spacer group had experienced a MID decline in bowel QOL (41% vs 14%; P=.002) and urinary QOL (30% vs 17%; P=.04). Furthermore, the control group were also more likely to have experienced large declines (twice the MID) in bowel QOL (21% vs 5%; P=.02) and urinary QOL (23% vs 8%; P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of a hydrogel spacer in reducing the rectal dose, toxicity, and QOL declines after image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer was maintained or increased with a longer follow-up period, providing stronger evidence for the benefit of hydrogel spacer use in prostate radiation therapy.

Contextual Factors Surrounding Anal Intercourse in Women: Implications for Sexually Transmitted Infection/HIV Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Our objectives were to describe women's reasons for engaging in anal intercourse (AI), contextual factors surrounding AI, and how these vary by current rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI) status, and to assess women's knowledge and concerns about rectal infections. METHODS: Between January 2011 and June 2013, we conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews among 40 women attending public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Los Angeles County, California. Women were eligible if they were at least 18 years of age, reported AI in the past 90 days, and were tested for rectal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Interviews, which were guided by the theory of gender and power, were transcribed and coded to explore contextual factors surrounding AI. RESULTS: On average, participants reported having 3 AI partners in their lifetime and most (n = 30) reported being in a serious relationship with a main/regular sex partner at the time of the interview. Motivations for engaging in AI and feelings about AI varied by rectal STI status. Women with a rectal STI more prominently conveyed the idea that AI was intended to please their sexual partner, whereas those who did not have a rectal STI reported AI more as a way to increase intimacy and personal sexual gratification. Almost all women (regardless of rectal STI status) reported limited to no knowledge about the risk of rectal STIs. CONCLUSIONS: Among women, risk of acquiring rectal STIs may vary by reason for engaging in unprotected AI as well as other contextual factors. Providers should consider addressing these contextual factors to reduce risk.

Tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of tenesmus associated with rectal prolapse.

AIM: Tenesmus in rectal prolapse leads to a vicious circle of straining with deterioration of prolapse. The primary phenomenon triggering this may be rectal hypersensitivity. We aimed to assess whether treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may break the vicious circle and improve tenesmus. METHOD: A retrospective review was carried out of patients with rectal prolapse and severe tenesmus who were poor surgical candidates or had refused surgery. They were treated at our tertiary centre with low dose tricyclic antidepressants. RESULTS: Twenty-three (18 female) patients were included, with mean age 75.3 (±SD 14.6) years. The mean duration of symptoms was 10.8 (± 8.6) months. Full-thickness rectal prolapse was diagnosed in 16 (70%) patients while seven (30%) had mucosal or incomplete prolapse. Ten (43%), eight (35%) and five (22%) patients were treated with nortriptyline (25 mg daily), amitriptyline (10 mg daily) and desipramine (25 mg daily). After a mean follow-up of 9.05 (± 8.2) months, 14 (61%) patients reported significant improvement in symptoms, five (22%) had a partial response, three (13%) were lost to follow-up and one (4%) failed to respond. The response rates for nortriptyline, desipramine and amitriptyline were 90%, 100% and 62.5%. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report to address the symptomatic, conservative treatment of tenesmus in patients with rectal prolapse. TCAs may be an acceptable option for poor surgical candidates or patients refusing surgery.

Barriers to help-seeking in men diagnosed with benign colorectal diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the help-seeking pathway for lower bowel symptoms in men diagnosed with benign bowel diseases. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed thematically using Andersen's Model of Patient Delay as the theoretical framework. RESULTS: The major delaying factors were attribution of symptoms to self-limiting conditions, failure to make time to visit a GP, low expectation of help from the GP, fear of cancer diagnosis and embarrassment. CONCLUSION: The major causes of delay in help-seeking were related to the participants, whereas factors associated with treatment delay were less prominent in diagnostic delay.

External validation of the SF-36 quality-of-life questionnaire in Italian and Brazilian populations to select patients with colorectal endometriosis for surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the external validity of the validated French model of the quality-of-life questionnaire (QOL) SF-36 in predicting improvement after colorectal resection for endometriosis. DESIGN: Italian and Brazilian cohort studies (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Tertiary referral university hospital in Brazil and expert center in endometriosis in Italy. PATIENTS: Patients with colorectal endometriosis from an Italian population (n = 63) and a Brazilian population (n = 151). INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic colorectal resection for treatment of endometriosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative evaluations of the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the SF-36 were performed. Substantial improvement in PCS and MCS was observed after colorectal resection in both populations. In the Brazilian population, the receiver operating curve (ROC) (area under the curve [AUC]) was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.89) for MCS and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.71-0.83) for PCS, demonstrating good discrimination performance. The mean difference between the predicted and calibrated probabilities was 19.6% for MCS and 32.8% for PCS. In the Italian population, the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.52-0.78) for PCS and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.55-0.78) for MCS. The model demonstrated poor discrimination and calibration performance for PCS (p < .001) and MCS (p = .003). The mean difference between the predicted and calibrated probabilities was 17.5% for MCS and 21.8% for PCS. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of validated translations of the SF-36, our results underline the limits of this tool in selection of patients for colorectal resection due to underestimation of predicted quality of life, possibly because of variations in epidemiologic characteristics of the populations.

[Life-threatening bleeding in obsessive-compulsive disorder]. / Lebensbedrohliche Blutung infolge Zwangsstörung.

We report on a case of life-threatening hemorrhoidal bleeding due to obsessive-compulsive disorder. The patient had irrational fears and felt compelled to defecate at least 3 times a day. This required massive abdominal pressing and caused inguinal hernias and prolapsed hemorrhoids. Severe obsessive-compulsive rituals may often result in physical complications. Conversely, obsessive-compulsive disorder should be considered when patients present with uncommon physical complaints, particularly skin symptoms or abnormalities in the context of micturition and defecation.