Surgical management of anal stenosis: anoplasty with or without sphincterotomy / Tratamento cirúrgico da estenose anal: anoplastia com ou sem esfincterotomia

ABSTRACT Aim: Anal stenosis is an uncommon complication of anorectal surgery, mostly resulting from circumferential hemorrhoidectomy or resection of the skin tag in surgical management of chronic anal fissure. The aim of anoplasty is to restore normal function to the anus by dividing the stricture and widening the anal canal. Internal sphincterotomy may cause gas incontinence and if we manage the stenosis without sphincterotomy it could be failed. Could we use anoplasty without sphincterotomy? Method: The patients with anal stenosis were assigned in to two groups. The first group underwent Y-V anoplasty without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy and the second one underwent Y-V anoplasty with partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy. Result: A total of 25 patients (10 male and 15 female) underwent anoplasty, 14 without partial lateral internal sphincterotomy and 11 patients with partial lateral internal sphincterotomy. The healing rate of stenosis was 91% and 93% in groups undergoing anoplasty without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy and anoplasty with partial lateral internal sphictrotomy, respectively (p value 0.69). There was no significant change in both groups for post-operative incontinence complaints. Conclusion: The healing rate of anal stenosis was the same in the patients who underwent Y-V anoplasty with or without partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy. There was no significant change in post-operation incontinence between the two groups. Therefore, Y-V anoplasty would be a safe and simple surgical method in selected patients. Partial lateral internal sphinctrotomy procedure has been noticed in individual cases.

RESUMO Objetivo: A estenose anal é complicação incomum da cirurgia anorretal, sendo principalmente resultante de uma hemorroidectomia circunferencial ou ressecção do pólipo cutâneo no tratamento cirúrgico da fissura anal crônica. O objetivo da anoplastia é a restauração da função normal do ânus, mediante a divisão da constrição e alargamento do canal anal. A esfincterotomia interna pode causar incontinência gasosa; e se tratarmos a estenose sem esfincterotomia, poderá ocorrer insucesso. Poderíamos usar a anoplastia sem esfincterotomia? Método: Os pacientes com estenose anal foram designados para dois grupos. O primeiro grupo foi tratado com anoplastia em Y-V sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, e o segundo grupo foi tratado com anoplastia em Y-V com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Resultado: No total, 25 pacientes (10 homens e 15 mulheres) foram tratados com anoplastia-14 sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, e 11 com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Os percentuais de cura da estenose foram de 91% e 93% nos grupos tratados com anoplastia sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial e com esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial, respectivamente (p = 0,69). Não ocorreu mudança significativa nos dois grupos com relação às queixas de incontinência pós-operatória. Conclusão: O percentual de cura da estenose anal foi igual nos pacientes tratados com anoplastia em Y-V com ou sem esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial. Não foi observada mudança significativa na incontinência pós-operatória entre os dois grupos. Portanto, a anoplastia em Y-V seria um método cirúrgico seguro e simples em pacientes selecionados. Em casos isolados, o procedimento de esfincterotomia interna lateral parcial tem sido observado.

Comparison of the analgesic effect of ibuprofen with mesalamine after discectomy surgery in patients with lumbar disc herniation: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain management is an important component in the postoperative period following discectomy. AIMS: We hypothesized that mesalamine considering its better safety profile, is likely to be a better choice, if it would be as effective as ibuprofen in controlling post-discectomy pain. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed on patients who underwent lumbar discectomy surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 58 patients who had lumbar discectomy, 27 patients were randomized to oral ibuprofen 500 mg and 31 patients to mesalamine 400 mg, three times a day for nine days following surgery. There was no placebo group. Severity of pain was assessed by using 10- cm visual analogue scale (VAS), once before operation and for nine days after. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mean +/- SD pain scores were compared between groups and the statistical difference was estimated by Student's test using SPSS (Version 13). We also calculated the power of each t-test. Repeated measure ANOVA was performed for measuring the effect of time. RESULTS: The age range of the patients was 35 to 60 years (mean: 42.2 years). Mean +/- SD preoperative pain scores for ibuprofen or mesalamine-treated groups were 7.852 +/- 2.441 and 7.806 +/- 2.892, respectively. At the end of day 9, mean +/- SD of pain score was 2.704 +/- 2.284 and 2.717 +/- 2.273 for ibuprofen and mesalamine-treated groups respectively. Both drugs significantly reduced postoperative pain and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Since both drugs showed almost equal analgesic effect, considering its safety profile mesalamine, seems to be the preferred choice to alleviate post-discectomy surgery pain.