Guidelines for the treatment of hemorrhoids (short report).

Hemorrhoids are a common medical problem that is often considered as benign. The French Society of Colo-Proctology (Société nationale française de colo-proctologie [SNFCP]) recently revised its recommendations for the management of hemorrhoids (last issued in 2001), based on the literature and consensual expert opinion. We present a short report of these recommendations. Briefly, medical treatment, including dietary fiber, should always be proposed in first intention and instrumental treatment only if medical treatment fails, except in grade ≥III prolapse. Surgery should be the last resort, and the patient well informed of the surgical alternatives, including the possibility of elective ambulatory surgery, if appropriate. Postoperative pain should be prevented by the systematic implementation of a pudendal block and multimodal use of analgesics.

Lack of effficacy of botulinum toxin in chronic anal fissure.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hypertonicity of internal anal sphincter plays a major role in the persistence of chronic anal fissure. Botulinum toxin could induce internal anal sphincter relaxation without the adverse effects of surgery (long-term faecal incontinence) or topical nitrates (anal burning, headaches, hypotension). METHODS: We conducted a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study to assess the efficacy of a single injection of botulinum toxin in the internal anal sphincter of patients with chronic anal fissure in six ambulatory care clinics. Eligibility criteria included a mean value of post-defecation anal pain >or= 30 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale over the week preceding inclusion. Main endpoint was the proportion of patients with symptomatic improvement during the fourth week after inclusion (post-defecation anal pain below 10 mm). RESULTS: Forty-four patients (22 in each group) were included. At inclusion, there was no significant difference between groups on age, sex ratio, pain duration, post-defecation anal pain, analgesic consumption and stool frequency. Ten (45%) and 11 (50%) patients reported symptomatic improvement on the main endpoint (P=0.76) in placebo and botulinum toxin groups, respectively. Ten patients (five in each group) had healed fissure at week 4 and ten patients (five in each group) required surgical treatment between weeks 4 and 12. Similarly, there was no significant difference between groups on other variables between weeks 4 and 12. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of a single injection of botulinum toxin in the internal anal sphincter does not differ from that of a placebo in patients with chronic anal fissure.

[Reduction of postprandial gastroesophageal reflux with sodium alginate in suspension. Multicenter pH study in 21 patients]. / Réduction du reflux gastro-oesophagien postprandial par l'alginate de sodium suspension. Etude pH-métrique multicentrique chez 21 malades.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the pharmacological effectiveness of sodium alginate liquid in the treatment of gastroesophageal acid reflux. The pharmacological test selected was 3 hours postprandial oesophageal pH, because of the physico-chemical properties of this drug. Twenty-one patients of both sexes were included in this study. The initial pH measurement served both as inclusion criteria, by confirming the presence of gastric acid reflux, and as reference for the evaluation of the effect of sodium alginate liquid by a second pH determination after treatment. After treatment with sodium alginate liquid, the number and mean duration of episodes of reflux, as well as the time spent at each pH level, had significantly decreased as compared to the initial value. The gastroesophageal reflux score was significantly reduced during the second hour in recumbent posture, but none of the different parameters studied separately (number and mean duration of episodes of reflux and time spent at each pH level) was significantly decreased. This study demonstrates the pharmacological effectiveness of the drug during the post prandial period and indicates that it is more effective in upright than in supine position.

Effects of roxatidine acetate on 24-hour gastric acidity. Early evening versus bedtime administration in healthy subjects.

The gastric antisecretory activity of roxatidine acetate was studied on 24-hour intragastric pH in 12 healthy male volunteers. The study was randomised, double-blind and double-dummy where either roxatidine acetate 150 mg as a slow release granulated formulation or placebo were administered at 7.30 pm or 10 pm. Roxatidine acetate 150 mg produced a significant decrease in the number of hours during which gastric acidity ranged between pH 1.5 and 4.0 which was consistent with the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. There was no significant difference between the median intragastric pH values for early evening and bedtime administration of roxatidine acetate. The present data confirm that roxatidine acetate 150 mg inhibits gastric acid secretion but while a single evening dose is effective in controlling intragastric pH the results suggest there is no clear advantage in an early evening dose compared with a bedtime dose.

Low dose omeprazole effects on gastric acid secretion in normal man.

The pharmacological effects of low dose of omeprazole (Om) are not well known. This prompted us to investigate the effects of a 7-day treatment with a low dose of Om, 10 mg/d (Om10), on gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels and to compare the results with those obtained with an effective antisecretory dose of 20 mg/d (Om20). Twelve healthy volunteers received randomly and double-blind for three periods of 7 days, separated by at least 7 days, one capsule of placebo (P), Om10, Om20, given daily in the morning, in fasting condition. The last day of each period, 24 h pH was recorded using a glass electrode connected to a Digitrapper (Synectics). At the end of each pH-metry, acid secretion was measured in basal conditions (BAO), after sham-feeding (SAO) and after i.m. injection of 6 micrograms X kg-1 of pentagastrin (PAO). Whatever the threshold pH chosen, there was a statistically significant difference between P and Om10, P and Om20, and Om10 and Om20. Inhibition of acid concentrations was dose-dependent and prolonged, including nocturnal time. However, when considered on an individual basis, five subjects did not respond to Om10. More than 24 h after the last dose of Om has been administered, BAO, SAO and PAO were significantly reduced by either Om10 (respectively -52, -35 and -28 p. cent) and Om20 (respectively -60, -58 and -50 p. cent). Fasting serum gastrin concentration was significantly increased after Om20 treatment but not after Om10. We conclude that treatment with Om10 has a consistent and long lasting inhibitory action on gastric acidity without statistically significant effect on serum gastrin levels. These results suggest that 10 mg Om daily should be sufficient in some duodenal ulcer patients to effectively inhibit gastric acidity specially when long-term treatment seems to be indicated.

[Length of hospitalization and quality of care in a department of pediatrics. Results of a prospective study (author's transl)]. / Durée de séjour hospitalier et qualité des soins en pédiatrie. Résultats d'une étude prospective.

The records of 150 patients hospitalized in a department of specialized pediatrics were analysed immediately after discharge, in order to detect the factors involved in the length of stay. Unexpected course of the disease and familial factors most often increase the length of an hospitalization programed according to technical factors. The interactions between quality of care and length of stay are discussed.