Efficacy of surgical treatments for the management of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome: a network meta-analysis.

AIM: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a benign and poorly understood disorder with complex management. Typical symptoms include straining during defaecation, rectal bleeding, tenesmus, mucoid secretion, anal pain and a sense of incomplete evacuation. Diagnosis is based on characteristic clinical symptoms and endoscopic/histological findings. Several treatments have been reported in the literature with variable ulcer healing rates. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments for SRUS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and network meta-analysis were performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies in English, French and Spanish languages were included. Papers written in other languages were excluded. Other exclusion criteria were reviews, case reports or clinical series enrolling less than five patients, study duplications, no clinical data of interest and no article available. A systematic literature search was conducted from January 2000 to March 2024 using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. The biases of the studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale or the Jadad scale when appropriate. Types of treatment and their efficacy for the cure of SRUS were collected and critically assessed. The study's primary outcome was to estimate the rate of patients with ulcer healing. RESULTS: A total of 22 studies with 911 patients (men 361, women 550) diagnosed with SRUS were analysed in the final meta-analysis. The pooled effect estimates of treatment efficacy revealed that surgery showed the highest ulcer healing rate (70.5%; 95% CI 0.57-0.83). Surgery was superior in the cure of ulcers with respect to medical therapies and biofeedback (OR 0.09 and OR 0.14). CONCLUSION: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a challenging clinical entity to manage. Proficient results have been reported with the surgical approach, suggesting its positive role in cases refractory to medical and biofeedback therapy. Further studies in homogeneous populations are required to evaluate the efficacy of surgery in this setting. (PROSPERO registration number CRD42022331422).

Early and late effects of the sequential transfixed stich technique for the treatment of the symptomatic rectocele without rectal mucosa prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Different surgical techniques have been proposed for rectocele repair. However, controversial aspects exist on the best approach to use. The study aims to report the early and late outcomes of the sequential transfixed stich technique (STST) for the treatment of rectocele in the absence of mucosal prolapse. METHODS: One hundred patients presenting a symptomatic rectocele were treated with STST from January 2010 through August 2015. Patients with mucosal prolapse were not considered eligible for STST. After a period of 24 months from surgery, all the patients were clinically evaluated with the intent to investigate the risk of recurrence of the preoperative symptoms. RESULTS: All the patients were women (median age=54.7 years; ranges=37-75). Median discharge time was 1.5 days. One-month severe complications were: hemorrhoid thrombosis (6.0%), self-solved bleeding (6.0%), urinary retention (4.0%), anal secretion (4.0%) and urinary incontinence (1.0%). No post-operative cases of fecal incontinence were observed. Two years after surgery, 76.0% of patients reported a global improvement of the preoperative symptoms, with 73 and 35% of cases showing a reduced difficulty in the evacuation and need for digitation. Only 8.0% of patients showed a recurrence of the initial symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The STST is a feasible, safe, and cost-effective technique for the treatment of the rectocele without rectal mucosal prolapse. The method does not increase the risk of postoperative anal incontinence and presents a short hospital stay. STST presents long-term results in line with other transvaginal and transanal approaches.

Surgical approach to piles at risk of severe postoperative pain: tricks and tips.

AIM: Aim of the present study is to propose a clinic-therapeutic course for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease able to combine radical anatomic surgery with a painless postoperative path. MATERIAL OF STUDY: The present study is based on the evaluation of 20 selected patients who underwent radical hemorrhoidectomy for very high grade hemorrhoidal disease. The clinical course was characterized by careful bowel cleansing, hemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan-Morgan using LigaSure, intraoperative perianal infiltration of Ropivacaine and postoperative use of analgesic drugs. DISCUSSION: A low postoperative pain may descend from a scheduled timing of clinical procedures. Preoperative bowel cleansing delays the first postoperative evacuation, thus avoiding the perianal nerve stimulation. The use of LigaSure allows to perform surgical excision in a perfect way: lack of hemostatic stitches, less tissue trauma, very low early morbidity. A rational and scheduled intra and postoperative drug administration offers a highly significant contribution to the pain control. The intra and postoperative use of drugs makes it possible to perform the so-called "preventive anesthesia with activation of the pain memory" and postoperative evacuations with low pain perception. All patients, in fact, reported low and well tolerated pain, satisfaction and return to normal activities in a short period. CONCLUSIONS: Radical hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure and attention to pre, intra and postoperative protocol makes the procedure painless, safe and with low morbidity. KEY WORDS: Hemorrhoidectomy, LigaSure, Painless procedure.

Anal self-massage in the treatment of acute anal fissure: a randomized prospective study.

BACKGROUND: An anal fissure (AF) is a tear in the epithelial lining of the anal canal. This is a very common condition, but the choice of treatment is unclear. The use of anal dilators is effective, economic, and safe. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of two conservative treatments, the use of anal dilators or a finger for anal dilatation, in reducing anal pressure and resolving anal fissures. METHODS: Fifty patients with a clinical diagnosis of AF were randomly assigned to one of the treatments, self-massage of the anal sphincter (group A, 25 patients) or passive dilatation using dilators (group B, 25 patients). All patients were evaluated at baseline, at the end of treatment, and after 12 weeks and 6 months. Pain was measured using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: After the treatment, 60% of patients treated with dilators and 80% of patients treated with anal self-massage using a finger showed disappearance of their anal fissures. A comparison between signs and symptoms reported by the patients in the two groups showed a statistically significant reduction in anal pain (group A, P=0.0001; group B, P=0.0001) and bleeding after defecation (group A, P=0.001, group B, P=0.001). At 6 months after treatment, a significantly greater reduction in anal pain was observed in Group A compared to Group B (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: The use of anal self-massage with a finger appears to induce a better resolution of acute anal fissure than do anal dilators, and in a shorter time.

Development and testing of a grasper for NOTES powered by variable stiffness pneumatic actuation.

BACKGROUND: In natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) the peritoneal cavity is reached through natural orifices (mouth, rectus and transvaginal duct), by means of little cuttings in the walls of hollow organs. Due to narrow spaces, NOTES needs robotic systems to assure operation/movement precision and patient safety. Variable stiffness actuation (VSA) assures both requirements. METHODS: The authors developed a grasper for NOTES, provided with VSA, to use as an end-effector for snail robot devices. The present paper deals with basic concepts of VSA and describes the design and architecture of the grasper. Characterization and functional experiments were performed and results analysed. RESULTS: A finite element model developed for the actuator design was validated, performance grasper characteristic curves were obtained, VSA was validated, and the gripping capability of several objects was assessed. CONCLUSION: The grasper satisfies technical design specifications. On the basis of the results obtained, a control system can be developed to test grasper in a simulated surgery environment.

Low energy manual anal stretch: an approach in the treatment of chronic anal fissure.

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure is a tear in the epitelial lining of the anal canal. This is a very common anorectal disorder, but the choice of treatment is unclear. Sphincterotomy is effective but it is affected by a high risk of fecal incontinence. Manual anal stretch is aN efficacious, economic and safe maneuver. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of anal stretch in resolving chronic anal fissures. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic anal fissure were submitted to anal stretch. All patients were submitted to anal stretch, after clinical evaluation. All patients were studied at basal time, and at 7 days, 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatment. RESULTS: At 3 months and 6 months after the anal stretch, 88% and 94% of patients showed a resolution of anal fissures and only 12% have relapsed at 12 months, without complications, such as faecal incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The anal stretch appears to induce better resolution of chronic anal fissure with a very low risk of fecal incontinence.

High-Volume Transanal Surgery with CPH34 HV for the Treatment of III-IV Degree Haemorrhoids: Final Short-Term Results of an Italian Multicenter Clinical Study.

The clinical chart of 621 patients with III-IV haemorrhoids undergoing Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy (SH) with CPH34 HV in 2012-2014 was consecutively reviewed to assess its safety and efficacy after at least 12 months of follow-up. Mean volume of prolapsectomy was significantly higher (13.0 mL; SD, 1.4) in larger prolapse (9.3 mL; SD, 1.2) (p < 0.001). Residual or recurrent haemorrhoids occurred in 11 of 621 patients (1.8%) and in 12 of 581 patients (1.9%), respectively. Relapse was correlated with higher preoperative Constipation Scoring System (CSS) (p = 0.000), Pescatori's degree (p = 0.000), Goligher's grade (p = 0.003), prolapse exceeding half of the length of the Circular Anal Dilator (CAD) (p = 0.000), and higher volume of prolapsectomy (p = 0.000). At regression analysis, only the preoperative CSS, Pescatori's degree, Goligher's grade, and volume of resection were significantly predictive of relapse. A high level of satisfaction (VAS = 8.6; SD, 1.0) coupled with a reduction of 12-month CSS (Δ preoperative CSS/12 mo CSS = 3.4, SD, 2.0; p < 0.001) was observed. The wider prolapsectomy achievable with CPH34 HV determined an overall 3.7% relapse rate in patients with high prevalence of large internal rectal prolapse, coupled with high satisfaction index, significant reduction of CSS, and very low complication rates.

Residual Prolapse in Patients with III-IV Degree Haemorrhoids Undergoing Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy with CPH34 HV: Results of an Italian Multicentric Clinical Study.

CPH34 HV, a high volume stapler, was tested in order to assess its safety and efficacy in reducing residual/recurrent haemorrhoids. The clinical charts of 430 patients with third- to fourth-degree haemorrhoids undergoing SH in 2012-2013 were consecutively reviewed, excluding those with obstructed defecation (rectocele >2 cm; Wexner's score >15). Follow-up was scheduled at six and 12 months. Rectal prolapse exceeding more than half of CAD was reported in 341 patients (79.3%); one technical failure was reported (0.2%) without any serious untoward effect; and 1.3 stitch/patient (SD, 1.7) was required to achieve complete haemostasis. Doughnuts volume was higher (13.8 mL; SD, 1.5) in patients with a large rectal prolapse than with smaller one (8.9 mL; SD, 0.7) (P value <0.05). Residual and recurrent haemorrhoids occurred in 8 of 430 patients (1.8%) and 5 of 254 patients (1.9%), respectively. A high index of patient satisfaction (visual analogue scale = 8.9; SD, 0.9) coupled with a persistent reduction of constipation scores (CSS = 5.0, SD, 2.2) was observed. The wider prolapse resection well correlated with a clear-cut reduction of haemorrhoidal relapse, a high index of patient satisfaction, and clinically relevant reduction of constipations scores coupled with satisfactory haemostatic properties of CPH34 HV.

From Nuremberg to bioethics: an educational project for students of dentistry and dental prosthesis.

In the lessons of medical-scientific methodologies of the medical faculty at the Sapienza University of Rome, basic notions on the ethical and deontologic aspects characterizing the history of the medical profession are provided, including the formulation and application of bioethical principles to clinics and biomedical research. Within such framework, an educational project has been initiated on the historical origin of the current normative and juridic dispositions in the regulation of experimental biomedical research and the relationship between health operators and patients, with particular attention to the procedure, the meaning the value either professional or deontologic, of ethics and the legality of the informed consensus. Emphasis is put on medical and experimental abuses that occurred in Germany during the nazi regime.

Efficacy of two different surgical techniques combined in the treatment of rectocele.

Rectocele is defined as the herniation of rectal wall due to a rectovaginal septum defect in direction of the vagina. In most of cases it is a result of vaginal delivery or repeated increases of intra-abdominal pressure due to chronic constipation. Some patients can develop rectocele as a consequence of congenital or inherited weakness of the pelvic support system. The rectopexy procedure by a single mechanical stapler allows to ablate the exceeding tissue. This surgery is performed through transanal access without laparotomy, by means of a circular stapler which simultaneously resects portion of the rectal wall and re-anastomizes it. Also the technique of sequential transfixed stitches (TSTS) represents a minimally invasive procedure for the rectocele treatment, allowing the performance of a complete plasty of rectal wall through transanal access. Hence, starting from a more effective stadiation of rectocele, the authors of this study will show the advantages of an endorectal approach for the treatment of the above-mentioned disease using both methods. A total of 25 female patients attending our colonproctology outpatient department, with an age ranging between 38 and 63 years, have been selected for our study; following a careful assessment of stadiation, they have undergone rectopexy with circular stapler first, thereafter fulfilling the surgery with TSTS. the mean duration of hospital stay was 2.5 days (range 2-3). Twelve patients out of 25 have shown early complications, and 11 patients late ones. Among the early complications, 3 patients reported pain (12 %), 3 patients urinary retention (12 %), and 2 patients bleeding (8 %). Among late complications, 5 cases of urgency defecation disorders (>4 months) (20 %), 1 intestinal flatus incontinence (4 %), 1 stenosis (4 %), 2 prolonged pain and 2 cases of persistent obstructive defecation syndrome were reported. No cases of life-threatening local or pelvic sepsis as well as of rectovaginal fistulae were reported. At the 6 months post-surgery evaluation, neither rectocele recurrence nor prolapse was observed. The association of circular stapler and TSTS in the rectopexy treatment of rectocele showed its short-term efficacy, producing an improvement of patient's clinical conditions, without inducing further alterations of pelvic statics, of the sphincteric tone as well as of rectum emptiness deficit.

[Usefulness of plug test for the intraoperative staging of rectal mucosal prolapse]. / Utilità del test della garza per la stadiazione intraoperatoria del prolasso mucoso del retto.

Rectal mucosal prolapse is characterised by protrusion of the rectal mucosa alone in the anal lumen. To correctly establish the intraoperative stage of rectal mucosal prolapse the authors performed a test based on the intrarectal introduction of a large-sized hydrophilic plug, to be extracted later from the anal canal. A total of 40 patients with proctological symptoms and with a diagnosis of rectal mucosal prolapse were submitted, in the outpatient setting, to a minimally invasive test with a small plug and later, in the preoperative stage, in patients under anaesthesia, using a plug entirely inserted into the rectal lumen and extracted via the anus. The same procedure was performed after surgery to verify the results of the excision. In all cases the plug test used in the preoperative stage permitted the perfect surgical evaluation of the extent of the prolapse. The plug test revealed a mucosal prolapse occupying 25% of the anal circumference in 10 patients, up to 50% in 20 patients and more than 50% in 10 patients. The first 30 patients were treated with the transfixed stitch technique, while for the others the Longo surgical technique was preferred. The plug test for the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of rectal mucosal prolapse is an effective tool for obtaining a more precise indication as to the optimal surgical intervention and for verifying the radicality of the surgical excision. The plug test, moreover, proved to be a minimally invasive and easily performed test for evaluating rectal mucosal prolapse.

[Use of an evaluation score for rectal mucosal prolapse]. / Utilità di uno score nel prolasso mucoso del retto.

Rectal mucosal prolapse is characterised by the protrusion of the mucosa alone in the rectal lumen. The authors, after an experience conducted in ambulatory patients, have produced a score to classify the extent of rectal mucosal prolapse based on evaluation of qualitative and quantitative factors that should help in the correct management of proctological patients. A total of 30 patients with proctological symptoms during outpatient visits were submitted to a minimally invasive test in comparison to the traditional ones, using a simple gauze plug connected to the end of a suture thread, inserted in the rectal lumen and removed via the anus. The score designed by the authors made it possible to classify 96.6% of patients accurately. In 4 patients the score was equal to zero. In 12 patients there was a mucosal prolapse of less than 25% with a reduction score equal to 2.4 and therefore these were treated with a single rubber ligature (7 patients with classes a and b) and 5 patients were treated with the transfixed stitch technique (TST) (class c). In 10 patients a 50% mucosal prolapse of the anal circumference and a mean reduction score of 5.6 were found. In 5 of these patients (classes a and b) it was possible to perform a multiple ligature while the other 5 (class c) were treated with TST. In 3 patients a prolapse ranging from 50 to 75% with a mean reduction index of 8.1 was found. The therapeutic procedure preferred for these patients was TST. In one patient a circumferential prolapse was diagnosed with a reduction score of 11 treated with Longo's surgical technique. The mucosal prolapse score seems to be useful to stratify patients more precisely in the choice of surgical intervention and during follow-up. The plug test is a minimally invasive test, useful for the application of the rectal mucosal prolapse score.

The modern treatment of early gastric cancer: our experience in an Italian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been developed as treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) by Japanese authors. However, there are no reports about its possible implementation in the Western setting. The aim of the present work is to determine the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic treatments for EGC in an Italian cohort. METHODS: Forty-five patients for a total of 48 gastric lesions were enrolled in the study. Thirty-six EMR procedures were performed with the strip biopsy technique using a double-channel endoscope. En bloc resection refers to resection in one piece, while piecemeal refers to resections in which the lesion was removed in multiple fragments. A total of 12 ESD were performed and completed with IT knife. We define as curative treatment lateral and vertical margins of the resected specimens free of cancer and repeat endoscopic finding of no recurrent disease. RESULTS: Out of 36 EMR procedures, 10 were piecemeal resections (28%), while 26 were en bloc (72%). ESD led to en bloc resection in 11/12 cases (92%). Histological assessment of curability in the EMR group was achieved in 56% of the cases, and in 92% of the ESD group. Mean follow-up period was 31 months (range: 12-71 months). There was no local recurrence or distant metastasis in the curative group patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results seem to confirm the safety and the clinical efficacy of the ESD procedure in the Western world too.

[A new needle for colon-proctological surgery: personal experience]. / Un nuovo ago per la chirurgia colonproctologica: esperienza personale.

Rectocele and haemorrhoidal prolapse are two pathologies that in all cases entail partial excision of anorectal tissue possibly with less invasive surgical procedures. For these pathologies, the authors have recently improved their treatment procedures, introducing the sequential transfixed stitch technique (STST) for rectocele and the transfixed stitch technique (TST) for haemorrhoidal prolapse, and thereby obtaining a significant technical and clinical improvement in terms of both outcomes (complete correction of rectal prolapse and haemorrhoidal prolapse) and discomfort and quality of life in the postoperative period. Moreover, in the present study the authors propose a subsequent innovation of the technique developed recently for the treatment of rectocele and haemorrhoidal disease using a new curved siliconate needle, thinner than the traditional lanceolate needles, with a longer, more rigid needle-thread junction in order to achieve less invasiveness and mucosal trauma, enabling the surgeon to perform sutures in a simple, easy manner. Ten consecutive patients with a clinical and instrumental diagnosis of rectocele--6 type II and 4 type III--were treated with TSTS and 20 patients with third (12 patients) and fourth degree (8 patients) haemorrhoidal disease were treated with TST. The surgical procedures were the same for all patients, although patients were divided into two groups. To the first group (A) were allocated patients treated with traditional stitches with a cylindrical, half circle needle, (Hr 25.9 mm). To the second group (B) were allocated, for the same objective, patients treated with the new siliconate needle, with an ultrafine tip, manufactured by Assut Europe S.p.A. The mean duration of the TST surgical procedures was 16 minutes using the new siliconate needle, whereas the mean duration using the traditional lanceolate needle was 17 minutes (p = ns). The surgical team judged the TST performed with the siliconate needle to be easier in 90% of cases in comparison to 70% of cases treated with the traditional lanceolate needle (p < 0,05). In patients treated with TSTS using the traditional lanceolate needle the mean duration of the surgical procedures was 20 minutes as against 18 minutes in the cases treated with the siliconate needle (p = ns). The surgical team judged the TSTS performed with the siliconate needle to be easier in all cases, while in two cases treated with the traditional lanceolate needle there were technical difficulties related to the use of the needle. The use of the ultrafine siliconate siliconate needle is more effective for the treatment of rectocele with TSTS and for haemorrhoidectomy with TST, particularly with a view to improving the surgical procedures and limiting the extent of mucosal damage related to suture oedema.

Role of magnified ileoscopy in the diagnosis of cases of coeliac disease with predominant abdominal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Less severe histological changes have sometimes been reported in the terminal ileum (TI) of coeliac patients. The aim of this work was to assess whether magnified ileoscopy and the corresponding biopsy could be used when diagnosing coeliac disease (CD). This would be of clinical value in coeliac patients who show predominant abdominal symptoms and who undergo colonoscopy with ileoscopy as first clinical examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients underwent conventional and magnified ileoscopy, along with histological examination of macroscopic mucosal abnormalities, if present. Patients whose ileoscopy with biopsy suggested CD underwent a blood test for quantitative determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with corresponding duodenal biopsy. RESULTS: Out of 143 patients enrolled, 21 had a TI mucosal lesion, and 10 of these showed villous atrophy at ileoscopy only after magnification. Six showed a count of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) >25/100 enterocytes and upper intestinal lesions, confirming the diagnosis of CD. Finally, of four patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease, TI mucosal aftoid lesions were seen in two only in magnified view. CONCLUSIONS: Magnified ileoscopy reliably recognizes the presence of mucosal villous subtotal or total atrophy at TI. This finding, even if not specific to CD, can address the diagnosis of CD. Magnification in the course of ileoscopy could also be useful in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

[Should surgical thread influence the outcome of haemorrhoidectomy with the transfixed stitch technique?]. / Il filo di sutura è in grado di influenzare gli esiti dell'emorroidectomia con tecnica dei punti transfissi (TPT)?

The technique of haemorrhoidectomy with the transfixed stitch technique (TST) is a surgical treatment modality for haemorrhoids that is available to the surgeon. The authors, through a personal interpretation of haemorrhoids based on the PATE 2006 classification, report the results of a comparative trial, using TST with two different surgical threads, Assufil and Monofil. The aim of this prospective randomised trial was to compare the results with the use of each surgical thread, analysing early postoperative side effects (bleeding, urinary retention, pain), late postoperative side effects (pain, bleeding, stricture, anal secretion, tenesmus and faecal incontinence), return to active life and quality of life. Patients with grade III-IV haemorrhoids were enrolled in our study and divided into two groups, one treated with TST using Assufil and the other treated with TST using Monofil. The main outcome measures such as analgesic intake during the first week, early and late side effects, return to active life and quality of life were evaluated. Patients were followed for six months after surgery. A total of 40 patients were enrolled, 20 per group. The pain score after surgery was significantly lower in all patients treated with TST. Thirty percent of TST patients treated with Monofil took analgesics in comparison to 35% of the Assufil group (p = ns). Postoperative pain after the start of bowel movements in TST patients was similar in the two groups. TST patients treated with Monofil showed a low incidence of discomfort and surgical oedema in comparison to the Assufil group. Side effects, surgical time and return to active life in patients treated with TST were similar in the two groups. TST haemorrhoidectomy is more advantageous utilising Monofil surgical thread because of its lower complication rate.