Prospective evaluation of bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: Bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery may significantly affect the quality of life. Our study aimed to estimate the incidence and characterize the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). METHODS: Prospective evaluation of patients treated with anterior resection for rectal cancer at two hospitals followed for 12 months after ileostomy reversal. The assessment was performed at baseline, after neoadjuvant treatment, and 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after bowel transit reconstruction using several scores (Bristol scale, LARS score, Memorial Sloan Kettering bowel function instrument, Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life, EORTC-QLQ30, and a visual analogue scale). RESULTS: Of 205 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer, 78 were followed for 12 months after the exclusion criteria. "Major LARS" at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months was 55.6%, 47.3%, and 34.6%, respectively. At 12 months, patients experienced significantly less diarrhea, higher LARS score, more percentage of "major LARS," and worse MSK-BFI score compared to baseline. Regarding the quality of life at 12 months, 77.7% of patients with "major LARS" reported impact according to the anchor question of the LARS score; all FIQL subscales were significantly lower; the overall EORTC-QLQ30 score and the functional subscales significantly correlated with the LARS and the MSK-BFI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel dysfunction with an impact on the quality of life is common after rectal cancer surgery. The knowledge of the potential consequences of the treatments is essential to be able to provide patients with the best possible information.

Functional Constipation in Older Adults: Prevalence, Clinical Symptoms and Subtypes, Association with Frailty, and Impact on Quality of Life.

INTRODUCTION: Functional constipation (FC) is very prevalent in older adults, especially in women, but its relationship with frailty is not fully understood. The aims were to assess FC prevalence, clinical symptoms and subtypes, association with frailty, and impact on quality of life (QoL) in older people. METHODS: This epidemiological study included 384 individuals aged over 70 years recruited from the community, a hospital, and a nursing home and stratified into robust, pre-frail, and frail groups (Fried criteria). The following criteria were evaluated: frailty, FC (Rome III criteria), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Chart), comorbidities (Charlson), dependency (Barthel), QoL (EQ5D), and clinical and sociodemographic data. Defined by symptom aggregation were 2 main clinical subtypes as follows: slow colonic transit time (CTT) and functional defecation disorder (FDD). RESULTS: Mean age was 79.11 ± 6.43 years. Overall FC prevalence was 26.8%, higher in women (32.4% women vs. 21.8% men; p = 0.019) and highest in frail patients (41.7% frail vs. 33.9% pre-frail vs. 24.2% robust; p < 0.001). Straining and hard stools (Bristol 1-2) were the most prevalent symptoms (89.3 and 75.7%, respectively). Frailty and benzodiazepine intake were independently associated with FC. Patients with FC obtained poorer QoL scores in the EQ5D (perceived health 66.09 ± 17.8 FC patients vs. 56.4 ± 19.03 non-FC patients; p < 0.05). The FDD subtype became significantly more prevalent as frailty increased (6.5, 25.8, and 67.7% for robust, pre-frail, and frail patients, respectively); the slow CTT subtype was significantly more frequent in robust patients (38.5% robust vs. 30.5% pre-frail vs. 23.1% frail), p = 0.002. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: FC prevalence in older adults was high, especially in women, and was associated with frailty and poor QoL. Clinical subtypes as related to frailty phenotypes reflect specific pathophysiological aspects and should lead to more specific diagnoses and improved treatment.

A European snapshot of psychosocial characteristics and patients' perspectives of faecal incontinence-do they correlate with current scoring systems?

PURPOSE: To compare the current clinical scoring systems used to quantify the severity of symptoms of faecal incontinence (FI) to patients' subjective scoring of parameters of psychosocial well-being. METHODS: Patients referred to six European centres for investigation or treatment of symptoms of FI between June 2017 and September 2019 completed a questionnaire that captured patient demographics, incontinence symptoms using St. Mark's Incontinence score (SMIS) and ICIQ-B, psychological well-being (HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and social interaction (a three-item loneliness scale). RESULTS: Three hundred eighteen patients completed questionnaires (62 men, mean age 58.7). Sixty percent of the respondents were aged under 65. Median SMIS was 15 (11-18), ICIQ-B bowel pattern was 8 (6-11) and bowel control was 17 (13-22), similar across all demographic groups; however, younger patients were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety (HADS score > 10, 65.2% of patients age < 65 vs 54.9% of those ages > = 65, p = 0.03) with lower quality of life (ICIQ-B QoL, median score 19 (14-23)) vs age > = 65 (16 (11-21) (p < 0.005)). On loneliness score 25.5% reported often feeling isolated from others. One of the most significant concerns by patients was the fear and embarrassment related to unpredictable episodes of incontinence. CONCLUSION: The SMIS remains a useful tool for quantifying incontinence symptoms but may underestimate the psychosocial morbidity associated with unpredictable episodes of incontinence. Interventions aimed at decreasing anxiety and to address feelings of disgust may be helpful for a significant number of patients requiring treatment for FI.

Bowel dysfunction in survivors of gynaecologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of bowel dysfunctions after treatment for gynaecological cancer and the impact on the quality of life. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 217 eligible women treated with radiotherapy (RT) with curative intention, alone or as combined treatment, for gynaecological malignancies at three institutions in Catalonia (Spain). Demographic, diagnosis and treatment modality were reviewed. Patients were sent validated questionnaires to assess bowel function and a set of questions asking on the changes after RT in bowel function, urinary function, sexuality, pain and lymphoedema. RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 109 patients (50.2%) with a mean age of 65 ± 11 years. Of them, 71.8% had been treated for endometrial cancer and 28.2% for cervical cancer. Overall, 42.7% of patients reported bowel dysfunction, affecting their quality of life in 36% of cases. Symptoms were more frequent in patients who had undergone external beam RT compared to brachytherapy. The most common symptom was defecatory urgency which was reported by more than 40% of patients according to the St Mark's score, although it was less common in other questionnaires. Overall, faecal incontinence ranged between 10 and 15%, and usual loose stools and diarrhoea were reported by 13.5% and 5.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of bowel symptoms after treatment of gynaecological malignancies is high. A systematic evaluation using validated questionnaires should be performed in order to allow the decision-making process and also because there are a number of treatments available to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors.

Conservative treatment of severe defecatory urgency and fecal incontinence: minor strategies with major impact.

BACKGROUND: Bowel disturbances have been identified as the most important risk factor for fecal incontinence (FI). However, few studies have evaluated the impact of fiber supplementation. Our aim was to assess the correlation between the improvement in stool consistency by fiber supplementation and the changes in urgency and number of FI episodes and in the QoL of patients with FI. METHODS: Eighty-three patients who came to our institution with FI and/or fecal urgency associated with loose stools or diarrhea were prospectively included in the study The intervention included dietary advice and methylcellulose 500 mg every 8 h for 6 weeks. All assessments were carried out at baseline and 6 weeks after the start of the intervention, and included a Bristol Stool Scale, a 3-week bowel diary, the St Mark's score, the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale (FIQL) and a bowel satisfaction score. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients completed the study. At baseline 50 reported episodes of urge incontinence, while 11 did not report FI episodes because they rarely left home to avoid leakage. The Bristol score improved to normal stools in 65.6% of patients after treatment. Bowel diaries showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of bowel movements, urge episodes, urge fecal incontinence episodes and soiling per week. The St Mark's score and the bowel satisfaction score significantly improved after methylcellulose and overall deferment time also increased. FIQL significantly improved in two subdomains (lifestyle, coping/behavior). Thirty-one patients (51.7%) were discharged with methylcellulose as the only treatment. CONCLUSIONS: FI may significantly improve with methylcellulose in selected cases. Assessment of fecal consistency and initial treatment with methylcellulose could be started at primary care level to reduce the need for specialist referral.

Initiative to improve detection of faecal incontinence in primary care: The GIFT Project.

Background: Faecal incontinence (FI) is a distressing condition with a significant impact on quality of life. The true prevalence of FI is unknown but probably underestimated. Identifying patients affected is of key importance because a significant proportion may improve with conservative treatments, and there are a number of other treatments available. Objectives: The aim of our project was to improve detection of FI in our primary care setting. Methods: A multidisciplinary working group was created in order to raise awareness and educate health professionals about FI. We designed a simple protocol and organized educational meetings at 7 primary care centres. The usual diagnostic computer-based tools used by nurses were modified, so that FI was systematically asked about. A proactive attitude among doctors and midwives regarding FI was recommended for high-risk patient groups. Results: The project was implemented in October 2014. Before the intervention, only 250 (<1%) patients with a diagnosis of FI were identified from the primary care register out of a population over 165000 people. Between October 2014 and February 2016, 17370 patients were questioned about anal continence in routine follow-ups. Of those questioned, 829 (4.8%) disclosed suffering from FI. Mean age was 78.5 ± 14 years (16-104), 565 (68.2%) were females, and 264 (31.8%) were males. The percentage of patients with FI increased with age and was higher in women. Conclusion: Our results show that a proactive approach with direct questions on FI may lead to a significant increase in FI detection in primary care.

Clinical application of the LARS score: results from a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The impact of the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) on quality of life has underscored the importance of measuring functional outcomes after treatment for rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the LARS score as a single questionnaire was useful enough in the clinical setting. METHODS: Patients treated by curative anterior resection for rectal cancer were sent the LARS score and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 questionnaires by post. Patients classified as "minor" and "major" LARS according to the LARS score were visited. Assessment included several scores (Vaizey score, Altomare Obstructed Defecation Syndrome score, Bristol scale). Patients with urgency/faecal incontinence also filled in a bowel diary and the FIQL score. RESULTS: Seventy patients returned the questionnaires, 49 of whom ("major LARS" and "minor LARS") were visited and 19 ("no LARS") were assessed by phone. Four different clinical patterns were identified. The group with urgency/faecal incontinence was the largest (33.8 %), whereas 17.7 % referred evacuatory dysfunction. The LARS score did not correctly evaluate 18 patients: 5 who were classified as no LARS but had severe evacuatory dysfunction and 13 patients categorized as LARS but without significant bowel dysfunction, 9 of whom were classified as major LARS. CONCLUSION: The LARS score may overestimate the impact on quality of life in some patients and may underestimate the impact of severe evacuatory dysfunction. Due to the complexity of the LARS, the LARS score as a single questionnaire might not be enough to assess bowel function. A complete clinical evaluation and additional questionnaires might be required.

Quality of Life Differences in Female and Male Patients with Fecal Incontinence.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To explore and compare quality of life (QoL) differences in female and male patients with fecal incontinence. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with fecal incontinence (60 women, mean (SD) age 64.13 (9.72) years; 31 men, mean (SD) age 63.61 (13.33) years) were assessed for pathophysiology (anorectal manometry and ultrasound), clinical severity (Wexner and Vaizey scales), QoL (Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Score [FIQL]) and health status (EQ-5D). RESULTS: External and internal anal sphincter impairment rates were 96.5% and 70.2%, respectively, in women, compared to 30% and 43.3% respectively in men (P< 0.05). Clinical severity was similar in both sexes, with mean (SD) Wexner scores of 10.95 (4.35) for women and 9.81 (4.30) for men, and mean (SD) Vaizey scores of 13.27 (4.66) for women and 11.90 (5.22) for men. Scores for women were significantly lower for all FIQL depression and coping subscales (P< 0.001) and the EQ-5D depression subscale (P< 0.01). EQ-5D index was 0.687 (0.20) for women and 0.835 (0.15) for men (P< 0.001). QoL was negatively affected by female gender (?1.336), anxiety/depression (?1.324) and clinical severity (?0.302), whereas age had a positive impact (0.055 per year) (P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The pathophysiology of fecal incontinence differed between the sexes. For similar severity scores, impact on QoL was higher in women. Gender had the highest impact on QoL compared to other factors. QoL measurements should be part of assessment and treatment protocols.

Ingested foreign bodies: do we need a specific approach when treating inmates?

The management of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract is not standardized. Foreign body ingestions in prisoners are always intentional and inmates can be manipulative, which makes medical decision even more difficult. Our objective is to propose a decisional algorithm for management of foreign body ingestion in prisoners. We reviewed the records of 198 admissions for foreign body ingestion for a 10-year period. Type and number of ingested foreign bodies, radiographic findings, outcome as well as the management method including conservative, endoscopic removal, or surgical treatment were analyzed. Most cases were managed conservatively (87.6%). Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in 37 cases with a success rate of 46 per cent. In 9.3 per cent of cases, the final treatment was endoscopic. Only five patients required surgical treatment, being emergent just in one case. We advocate conservative treatment for asymptomatic patients with foreign body ingestion. Endoscopic removal is proposed for pointed objects or objects bigger than 2.5 cm located in the stomach. Objects longer than 6 to 8 cm located in the stomach should be removed by endoscopy or laparoscopy. Patients with objects in the small bowel or colon should be treated conservatively unless there are complications or they fail to progress.

Prevalence and pathophysiology of functional constipation among women in Catalonia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Specific treatment of functional bowel disorders requires precise diagnosis. However, prevalence and subtypes of functional constipation among women are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the prevalence of functional constipation and investigate the subtypes of dyssynergic defecation and slow transit constipation among Spanish women. DESIGN: We performed a prospective epidemiological study in healthy young women and retrospective pathophysiological studies in 2 patient cohorts of women with functional constipation according to Rome II criteria. SETTINGS: Referral centers at Clínica Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain, and Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Spain. PATIENTS: The epidemiological study included 600 healthy young women, aged 37.1 (SD, 8.2) years. Patient cohort 1 comprised 172 women with functional constipation without symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, ranging in age from 18 to 45 years. Patient cohort 2 comprised 106 women with functional constipation and symptoms of dyssynergic defecation, ranging in age from 45 to 65 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In healthy women, a questionnaire was used to determine rates of functional constipation, dyssynergic defecation, and slow transit constipation. In patients, results of anorectal manometry, EMG, and colonic transit studies were reviewed to assess subtypes of functional constipation; in addition, results of dynamic videoproctography were reviewed in cohort 2 to assess the role of structural pelvic floor disorders. RESULTS: The prevalence of functional constipation in healthy young women was 28.8%; symptoms of dyssynergic defecation were found in 8.2%, those of isolated slow transit in only 0.17%. In patient cohort 1, a total of 143 patients (83.1%) showed dyssynergic defecation: 117 patients (68.0%) had paradoxical external anal sphincter contraction and 26 (15.1%) had impaired internal anal sphincter relaxation). Slow transit constipation without dyssynergia was observed in 15 (8.7%). Up to 40.2% of patients with dyssynergia also had delayed colonic transit. In the cohort of 106 women with dyssynergic defecation, videoproctography showed impaired puborectal relaxation in 64 patients (60.4%), anterior rectocele in 65 (61.3%), and rectal prolapse in 13 (12.3%). LIMITATIONS: We could not estimate the prevalence and subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome in the epidemiological study. CONCLUSIONS: Functional constipation is extremely prevalent among young, healthy, Spanish women, dyssynergic defecation being the most prevalent subtype. Slow transit constipation without dyssynergic defecation is uncommon. Structural pelvic floor disorders are highly prevalent in middle-aged women with dyssynergic defecation.

Prospective randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy of a short course of intravenously administered amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid followed by oral antibiotic in patients with uncomplicated acute diverticulitis.

INTRODUCTION: Medical treatment of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis is not standardized, and there is an enormous diversity in clinical practice. Our aim was to demonstrate that uncomplicated diverticulitis can be managed with orally administered amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid and a short hospital admission. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial was established to compare patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis who received oral antibiotic after a short course of intravenous antibiotic with those who received intravenous antibiotic for a longer period. The antibiotic treatment consisted of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid 1 g every 8 h. We included 50 patients, 25 in each group. Patients in group 1 began oral antibiotic as soon as they improved and were discharged the day after. Patients in group 2 received intravenous antibiotic for 7 days. Both groups received oral antibiotic at discharge. The endpoint of the study was "failure of treatment," which was defined as the impossibility of discharging on the expected day, emergency admission, or hospital readmission. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Most patients clearly improved between 24 and 48 h after admission. There were no significant differences between the groups when comparing failure of treatment. Treatment of patients in group 1 represented a savings in hospitalization costs of 1,244 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis can be managed safely with oral antibiotic; thus, a very short hospital stay is a safe option.

Modulation of the pathology of late xenograft rejection by PAF-antagonist UR-12670 in the hamster-to-rat liver xenotransplant model.

PAF antagonists have been used in xenotransplantation to alleviate the pathogenesis of hyperacute rejection. This study evaluated the ability of the PAF antagonist UR-12670 to improve graft function in late xenograft rejection (LXR) in an orthotopic liver xenotransplantation model, and the involvement of PAF (platelet activating factor) in this type of rejection. The recipients of a hamster xenograft received standard immunosuppression (tacrolimus 0.2 mg/kg/30 days, MMF 25 mg/kg/8 days). Study groups: group A, without UR-12670, group B, UR-12670 (20 mg/kg/8 d) and group C, continuous administration of UR-12670 (20 mg/kg/d). Serum levels of xenoantibodies were evaluated by flow cytometry and tissue deposits by immunofluorescence. Immunoblot and indirect immunofluorescence assessed specificity of xenoantibodies. Conventional histology was performed. Continuous administration of UR-12670 improved the histological pattern of liver xenografts, especially necrosis, loss of hepatocytes, hemorrhage, sinusoidal congestion and lymphocyte infiltration. There was not a shift in specificity of xenoantibodies at different times posttransplantation, as demonstrated by immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence. UR-12670 administration had a beneficial effect on graft function and considerably improved the histopathological pattern, but it failed to induce tolerance after withdrawal of immunosuppression. UR-12670 had an immunomodulatory effect on cellular response but not on antibody production. There was not a change in the specificity of xenoantibodies produced at LXR compared with pretransplant antibodies.