A systematic review of stapled hemorrhoidectomy.

HYPOTHESIS: Use of circular stapled hemorrhoidectomy will result in the same or improved safety and efficacy outcomes as those of the conventional methods for hemorrhoidectomy in patients with hemorrhoids. DATA SOURCES: Studies on stapled hemorrhoidectomy were identified using PREMEDLINE and MEDLINE (June 1966-June 2001), EMBASE (January 1980-June 2001), Current Contents (June 1993-June 2001), Ovid HEALTHSTAR (January 1975-June 2001), the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials database (searched June 13, 2001), and The National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment database (searched June 14, 2001). The search terms were as follows: haemorrhoid* and (stapl* or convent*) or hemorrhoid* and (stapl* or convent*). The Cochrane Library (2001, issue 2) was searched using the search terms haemorrhoid* or hemorrhoid*. STUDY SELECTION: Articles detailing randomized controlled trials were included if they compared circular stapled with conventional hemorrhoidectomy and provided relevant safety and efficacy outcome information. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from all included studies were extracted using standardized data extraction tables that were developed a priori. In addition, the randomized controlled trials were examined with respect to the adequacy of allocation concealment, handling of those unavailable for follow-up, and any other aspect of the study design or execution that may have introduced bias. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seven randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted when the studies had comparable outcomes, inclusion criteria, and follow-up. There was reasonably clear evidence in favor of the stapled procedure for bleeding at 2 weeks (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.82) and length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference, -0.89 days; 95% confidence interval, -1.42 to -0.36). Other less robust results in favor of the stapled hemorrhoidectomy related to pain, bleeding, anal discharge, wound healing, tenderness to per rectal examination, incontinence scores, earlier return of bowel function, analgesic requirement, and resumption of normal activities. One trial showed that prolapse occurred at significantly higher rates in the stapled hemorrhoidectomy group. However, the outcomes were poorly reported and generally showed statistically significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Stapled hemorrhoidectomy may be at least as safe as conventional hemorrhoidal surgical techniques. However, the efficacy of the stapled procedure compared with the conventional techniques could not be determined. More rigorous studies with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes need to be conducted.

Implications of delayed diagnosis in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Delayed diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to produce anxiety and is associated with the assumption that disease stage and survival will be worse. The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence and reasons for delay in the diagnosis of CRC, and the effects of delay, gender, age and tumour site on the stage of disease. METHODS: A retrospective study of 100 patients presenting with CRC during a 1-year period was performed. Delay was defined to have occurred if more than a 3-month period had lapsed from the time when initial symptoms were clearly established to the time of operation. Data were collected on principal presenting symptoms, time to first presentation to a doctor, time to diagnosis and treatment, reasons for delay, diagnostic procedures, tumour site, operation, and Australian clinicopathological (ACP) stage of the tumour. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had a delay in diagnosis of their cancer. In 18 patients (53%) delay was attributable to patient reasons; in 13 patients (38%) delay was attributable to doctor-related delay and in three patients (9%) it was attributable to both. Male patients were more likely to have patient-related delay (31% for male patients vs 10% for female patients; P = 0.011). Patients with delay were less likely to have a stage A tumour (6% for delay group vs 21% for non-delay group; P = 0.04). Male patients were less likely to have a stage A tumour than female patients (8% for male patients vs 25% for female patients; P = 0.018), but the effect of delay on stage disappeared when gender and tumour site were controlled in a logistic regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests some areas where improvements may be made concerning early diagnosis and treatment of patients with CRC.

A modification of single stapled colorectal anastomosis using the transanal insertion device (TAIS).

A modification of single stapled colorectal anastomosis utilizing a reusable stapler head (transanal insertion device [TAIS]) is described. This modification minimizes the time that the proximal bowel is open by allowing early placement of the circular stapler head, and minimizes the risk of rectal injury that may be associated with the passage of a circular stapling device without the head in situ.

Investigation of fecal incontinence with endoanal ultrasound.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to audit the results of endoanal ultrasound in patients with fecal incontinence. METHODS: Endoanal ultrasound was used to investigate 53 patients with fecal incontinence. Data for endoanal ultrasound were collected prospectively. Results were compared with clinical and obstetric history, obtained retrospectively from case notes, and were compared with manometric and operative findings. RESULTS: Sphincter abnormalities were identified in 42 of 53 patients. A total of 28 anterior defects were thought to be obstetric in origin. Fourteen other defects were secondary to anal pathology or surgery. Patients with anterior external sphincter defects either had complete defects (4 patients; mean age, 31 years) or proximal defects (24 patients; mean age, 55 years). For patients with a proximal defect, 38 percent gave a history of obstetric tear, episiotomy, or forceps delivery, and the rest declared having had an apparently normal delivery. Only 50 percent had a sphincter weakness that was evident on clinical examination. Of those studied with manometry, only 21 percent had low squeeze pressures consistent with an external sphincter defect. CONCLUSIONS: Sphincter defects seen on ultrasound may not have a history of obstetric trauma or abnormal clinical and manometric findings. Endoanal ultrasound is recommended in all patients with fecal incontinence to detect occult sphincter defects.

Phlegmonous enterocolitis: a rare form of inflammatory bowel disease.

Phlegmonous enterocolitis is a rarely encountered and almost universally fatal bacterial infection seen most often in the alcoholic population. Despite being first described in 1842, fewer than 60 cases have been reported. The role of surgical management in this condition is unknown. We present a case of phlegmonous enterocolitis with a successful outcome after total colectomy.

Anal lymphoma presenting as a perianal abscess.

A case of perianal abscess secondary to anal lymphoma affecting a human immunodeficiency virus negative patient is presented. Causes of perianal abscess other than anal glandular infection are important, although the proportion of abscesses reported to be secondary to these other causes is found to vary widely in the literature. A biopsy of the wall of an anorectal abscess should be taken when suspicion of an unusual cause arises.

Resection and sutured peranal anastomosis for carcinoma of the rectum.

Resection and peranal suture is now an accepted technique for low rectal carcinoma; however, long-term results of large numbers are not known. Eighty-four patients who had this procedure at a specialist institution between 1972 and 1985 are reviewed. There was a low operative mortality (2.4 percent), but a high complication rate with pelvic sepsis in 34 (40.5 percent) and anastomotic dehiscence (either partial or complete) in 40 (47.6 percent). The crude five-year survival rate was 56 percent. Isolated local recurrence occurred in seven patients (9.2 percent) and in a further seven patients it was associated with systemic recurrence. The functional results were satisfactory with 92 percent of assessed patients having three or less bowel actions per day. Subsequent incontinence occurred in 8 of the 60 patients assessed and 5 of these needed proximal diversion. For patients in whom the only alternative is abdominoperineal excision of the rectum, these results confirm that there is no disadvantage in terms of potential cure and that the functional results are acceptable.

Anal fissure in Crohn's disease.

There is little information on the natural history of anal fissure in Crohn's disease. The case notes of all new patients with Crohn's disease attending one hospital between 1977 and 1983 were reviewed: there were 61 patients with this diagnosis and an unhealed anal fissure as the only anal lesion. Of these 61 patients the fissure healed in 42 (69 per cent) during medical treatment of the intestinal disease. Ten patients (16 per cent) developed other anal lesions and in the remaining nine patients the fissure remained unhealed at the time of rectal excision (six) or last out-patient attendance (three). Activity of the fissure did not reflect disease activity elsewhere in 11 cases in whom healing of the fissure occurred despite progressive intestinal disease subsequently requiring resection. This study validates the policy of conservative management of anal fissure in Crohn's disease with anal surgery (required in 9.8 per cent of patients in this series) being reserved for the development of other anal disease.

Restoration of continuity after Hartmann's procedure for the complications of diverticular disease.

Although Hartmann's procedure has been accepted by most as the treatment of choice for diverticular disease complicated by generalized peritonitis, restoration of continuity may be difficult. A retrospective review of 30 patients, having had Hartmann's procedure for complicated diverticular disease, was made to assess restoration of continuity and factors which may influence its performance. This revealed zero mortality with a morbidity rate of 31.5% and a reversibility rate of 85% (with two cases still awaiting restoration of continuity).

Rectal gangrene: a complication of phosphate enema.

Three cases of rectal gangrene are reported. All cases were compromised with intercurrent illnesses and all patients had complicated haemorrhoids before the gangrene developed. Rectal gangrene as a complication of haemorrhoids is rare and, whereas reports have suggested that this complication is due to nozzle injury, we believe that it may be due to a direct necrotizing effect of the phosphate on the rectum. We no longer recommend its use in compromised patients.