Enhanced Approach to Treating Chronic Anal Fissures: Fissurectomy with Vertical Non-full-thickness Midline Sphincterotomy and Mucosal Advancement Flap.

Objectives: Lateral internal sphincterotomy is a conventional surgical intervention for chronic anal fissures, yet the potential for postoperative anal incontinence underscores the need for an alternative approach. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with chronic fissures who underwent a combination of fissurectomy, vertical non-full thickness midline sphincterotomy (VNMS), and mucosal advancement flap (MAF), as a means of mitigating the risk of incontinence. Methods: This retrospective analysis included forty-six consecutive patients with chronic anal fissures, unresponsive to topical diltiazem, who underwent fissurectomy combined with VNMS and MAF between April 2018 and May 2023. Primary outcome measures encompassed fissure healing rates. Continence was assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), and manometric assessments were conducted before the procedure and three months postoperatively. Results: With a median follow-up of 27 months, there were no postoperative complications, and the overall fissure healing rate reached 96% (44/46). At three months post-procedure, FISI scores were reduced to 0, with no instances of fecal soiling. Anal resting pressure exhibited a significant reduction at 3 months [pre-op: 133 (95% CI, 128-150) vs. 3 mo: 109 (95% CI, 100-117) cmH2O; p = 0.01]. Similarly, maximum anal squeeze pressure showed a significant decrease three months post-surgery [pre-op: 317 cmH2O (95% CI, 294-380) vs. 3 mo: 291 cmH2O (95% CI, 276-359), p = 0.03]. Conclusions: The combination of fissurectomy, VNMS, and MAF proved to be an effective approach for chronic anal fissures, yielding favorable medium-term outcomes without postoperative anal incontinence.

Comparison of Safety and Efficacy between Laparoscopic Ventral Rectopexy and Delorme's Procedure for External Rectal Prolapse in Nonagenarians.

Objectives: This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) in nonagenarian patients with external rectal prolapse (ERP) compared to Delorme's procedure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, including nonagenarian patients who underwent either LVR or Delorme's procedure, comparing outcomes such as morbidity, length of hospital stay (LOS), and recurrence rates. Results: Between September 2009 and August 2023, 22 patients (median age 91, range 90-94 years) underwent LVR, while 12 patients (median age 91, range 90-96 years) received Delorme's procedure. Baseline characteristics, including sex ratio, parity, American Society of Anesthesiology grade, and Body Mass Index, did not significantly differ between the groups. LVR had a significantly longer operating time but lower blood loss than Delorme's procedure. Postoperative LOS was significantly shorter for LVR patients (median 1, range 1-3 days) compared to Delorme's procedure patients (median 2.5, range 1-13 days; P = 0.001). Notably, no significant morbidity occurred in the LVR group, while one case of delirium and another of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome were observed in the Delorme's procedure group. Recurrence rates were lower in the LVR group, with no recurrences during a median follow-up of 23 months (range 1-65 months), compared to one recurrence at 2 months during a median follow-up of 34 months (range 1-96 months) in the Delorme's procedure group. Conclusions: LVR is a safe and effective surgical option for nonagenarian ERP patients, showing favorable outcomes in terms of morbidity, LOS, and recurrence rates compared to Delorme's procedure.

A case of carcinoid syndrome probably exacerbated by hemodialysis in which prochlorperazine maleate was effective.

Carcinoid syndrome is caused by the release of serotonin and other substances, which commonly occurs due to liver metastasis of neuroendocrine tumors. It rarely occurs due to liver metastasis of neuroendocrine carcinoma. We report the case of a patient with liver metastasis of neuroendocrine carcinoma who suffered from acute abdominal pain and diarrhea triggered by hemodialysis. Various differential diagnoses were considered, but we concluded these symptoms to be probably caused by exacerbation of carcinoid syndrome, as the serum 5HIAA level was markedly elevated, and a drug with anti-serotonin activity was effective. Prochlorperazine maleate, which has anti-serotonin activity, was effective for these symptoms, and the patient was able to continue maintenance hemodialysis, which contributed to his quality of life and prognosis. We speculated the mechanism of carcinoid exacerbation was that substances such as serotonin had entered the systemic circulation via the increased extrahepatic shunt of the portal venous blood flow, entering the inferior vena cava and that this condition had been triggered by hemodialysis via the same mechanism as portal systemic encephalopathy.

Bidet-toilet Use as a Cause of Anterior Aphtoid Ulcer in the Anorectum.

Electric bidet toilets are automatic devices that deliver water jets to clean the anus. Although the use of bidets to clean the anus after defecation contributes to hand hygiene and local comfort, excessive use may cause anal pruritus and incontinence. However, no cases of anorectal aphtoid ulcers caused by bidet use have yet been reported in literature. A 61-year-old woman presented to our hospital with anal bleeding and pain. Anoscopy revealed an aphtoid ulcer in the anterior midline anorectum. She reported using a bidet toilet and washing her anus before and after defecation for one year. The frequency of washing was five times or more per day, the force of the water jet was strong, the thickness of the water was thin, and the duration of washing per use was 1 min or more. She responded well to the advice of stopping bidet use. At the follow-up, 5 weeks after discontinuing bidet use, she became asymptomatic, and the anoscope showed that the aphtoid ulcer had completely healed. The water jet of the bidet toilet seemed to be the causative factor for the anterior aphtoid ulcer in the anorectum.

Laparoscopic or transanal repair of rectocele? Comparison of a reduction in rectocele size.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the reduction in rectocele size after laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) with that after transanal repair (TAR). METHODS: Forty-six patients with rectocele who underwent LVR and 45 patients with rectocele who received TAR between February 2012 and December 2022 were included. This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. All patients had clinical evidence of a symptomatic rectocele. Bowel function was evaluated using the constipation scoring system (CSS) and fecal incontinence severity index (FISI). Substantial symptom improvement was defined as at least a 50% reduction in the CSS or FISI scores. Evacuation proctography was performed before surgery and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Constipation was substantially improved in 40-70% of the LVR patients and 70-90% of the TAR patients over 5 years. Fecal incontinence was markedly improved in 60-90% of the LVR patients across 5 years and in 75% of the TAR patients at 1 year. Postoperative proctography showed a reduction in rectocele size in the LVR patients (30 [20-59] mm preoperatively vs. 11 [0-44] mm postoperatively, P < 0.0001) and TAR patients (33 [20-55] mm preoperatively vs. 8 [0-27] mm postoperatively, P < 0.0001). The reduction rate of rectocele size in the LVR patients was significantly lower than that in the TAR patients (63 [3-100] % vs. 79 [45-100] %, P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: The reduction in rectocele size was lower in the patients who underwent LVR than in those who received TAR.

[Interstitial Lung Disease after OK-432 Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusion in Breast Cancer-A Case Report].

The patient was a 42-year-old woman. After 4 courses of capecitabine therapy for right chest wall recurrence of breast cancer, ER(+, 10-15%), PgR(-), HER2(-), she underwent pleurodesis using OK-432 for increased right pleural effusion. On the 12th day after pleurodesis diffuse infiltrative shadows in the right lung, and frosted shadows in both lungs, were observed, and she was diagnosed with drug-induced lung injury. About 3 weeks after administration of prednisolone 1 mg/ kg a tendency for improvement in lung injury was observed, but the patient died of breast cancer progression. Drug- induced lung injury by pleurodesis carries the risk of delaying resumption of chemotherapy. We report this case with a review of the literature.

Effect of posture on anorectal manometric measurements in female patients with fecal incontinence and rectoanal intussusception.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of erect position on anorectal manometry in patients with rectoanal intussusception (RAI). METHODS: This was a single center prospective observational study. Eighty female patients with fecal incontinence (FI) who underwent defecography between 1st January 2016 and 30th April 2022 were included. The effect of posture on commonly measured parameters during manometry was assessed in the left-lateral and erect positions. The severity of FI was assessed using FI Severity Index (FISI). RESULTS: Defecography showed that 30 patients had circumferential RAI (CRAI), and 50 had non-CRAI. There were no significant differences in age, parity, FI type, and FISI scores between the groups. However, FISI scores were significantly lower in 51 patients with passive FI than 12 patients with mixed FI type [21 (8-38) vs. 32 (8-43), P = 0.007]. Endo-anal ultrasound showed no significant difference in the incidence of sphincter defects between the groups. Maximum squeeze pressure was significantly lower in the erect position than in the left-lateral position in the CRAI patients [119 cm H2O (59‒454 cm H2O) vs. 145 cm H2O (65‒604 cm H2O), P = 0.006] however, this finding was not observed in the non-CRAI group and the subgroup of anterior RAI patients. In either group, maximum resting pressure, defecation desire volume, and maximum tolerated volume were significantly higher, while anal canal length was significantly shorter in the erect position than in the left-lateral position, respectively. CONCLUSION: Voluntary contraction in female FI patients with CRAI was suppressed in the erect position.

Annual long-term functional outcomes after transanal repair for symptomatic rectocele.

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the long-term annual functional outcomes and quality of life (QOL) after transanal rectocele repair. Methods: We evaluated retrospectively collected data from patients who underwent transanal repair for symptomatic rectocele between February 2012 and December 2018. The Constipation Scoring System (CSS), the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), and several QOL questionnaires (e.g., the Patient Assessment of Constipation-QOL [PAC-QOL], Fecal Incontinence QOL, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey [SF-36]) were administered before surgery and annually after surgery. Additionally, physiological assessments and defecography were performed before and after surgery. Substantial symptom improvement, indicated by at least a 50% reduction in the CSS or FISI score, was evaluated postoperatively. All postoperative follow-up results were compared with the preoperative data. Results: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 5 years (range, 0.5-7 years). Postoperative defecography showed that the rectocele size significantly decreased (P<0.0001). However, the physiological assessment did not reveal postoperative changes. The CSS score 1 year after surgery was significantly lower than the preoperative score (P<0.0001) and remained significantly low until the long-term follow-up. Constipation improved by more than 80% 2 to 5 years postoperatively, and fecal incontinence improved in 2/3 of the patients after 5 years. The PAC-QOL scores significantly improved (all P<0.05) over time until the 3-year and long-term follow-ups, and 6 of the 8 SF-36 scores significantly improved at specific points postoperatively. Conclusion: Transanal rectocele repair provides long-term improvement for constipation and constipation-specific QOL.

Reappraising the Role of Enterocele in the Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: Is Radiological Impaired Rectal Emptying Significant in Enterocele?

Objectives: The role of enterocele in the obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) has remained to be controversial, as patients with enterocele frequently exhibit multiple risk factors, including aging, parity, concomitant different abnormalities, previous histories of pelvic surgery, and incomplete emptying of the rectum. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the association between enterocele and ODS using multivariate analysis. Methods: Between June 2013 and June 2021, 336 women underwent defecography as they had symptoms of ODS. Of those, 293 women (87%) who had anatomical abnormalities were included in this study. Results: Enterocele was detected in 104 (36%) patients. More women with enterocele had histories of hysterectomy compared to those without enterocele (29% vs. 10%, P < 0.0001). The frequency of radiological incomplete emptying was found to be significantly lower in women with enterocele (36%) than in those without enterocele (50%), whereas the mean (95% confidence interval) ODS scores in women with enterocele were significantly higher than those without enterocele [12.1 (11.0-13.3) versus 10.8 (10.5-11.5), P = 0.023]. As per the results of our multivariate analysis, it was determined that the presence of enterocele was associated with higher ODS scores (P = 0.028). However, the small differences in the mean score (1.3) would be clinically negligible. The specific radiological type of enterocele which compressed the rectal ampulla at the beginning of defecation was not associated with the increased ODS scores. Conclusions: The presence of enterocele may not be a primary cause of ODS. Other anatomical abnormalities combined with enterocele, or the hernia itself, may have a role in causing ODS.

SMARCA2/BRM-Deficient Undifferentiated/Rhabdoid Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site.

Undifferentiated neoplasms of unknown primary sites are rare. It is difficult to identify their characteristics and determine the appropriate chemotherapy regimen to be used. Undifferentiated/rhabdoid carcinoma is reportedly associated with loss of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes, such as observed in SMARCA4-deficient tumors. However, little is known about SMARCA2/BRM-deficient tumors. A 48-year-old man presented with low back pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed intraperitoneal lymph nodes and multiple bone metastases that invaded the thoracic and lumbar spinal canals. The primary tumor was not identified despite the standard diagnostic methods being used. CT-guided needle biopsy of right iliac bone metastasis showed that the tumor had an undifferentiated/rhabdoid morphology. Immunostaining revealed that the tumor was SMARCA2/BRM-deficient despite both SMARCB1/INI1 and SMARCA4/BRG being retained. We found no genomic alterations during domestic next-generation sequencing panel profiling, which can identify 114 genes. Thus, he was diagnosed with SMARCA2/BRM-deficient undifferentiated/rhabdoid carcinoma of an unknown primary site with multiple bone metastases and intraperitoneal lymph node metastasis. We administered radiotherapy to the thoracic and lumbar spine to improve cord compression, and carboplatin (CBDCA) and paclitaxel regimen was chosen as first-line chemotherapy, but this was discontinued due to an anaphylactic shock. We then selected the CBDCA and gemcitabine regimens; however, the patient did not continuously receive the regimen due to myelosuppression. Radiation therapy effectively relieves pain and cord compression. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SMARCA2/BRM-deficient undifferentiated/rhabdoid carcinoma of an unknown primary site. Further studies are needed to improve SWI/SNF-deficient tumor identification methods.

Atezolizumab-Induced Sarcoidosis-Like Reaction in a Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Tumor-related sarcoidosis-like reactions (SLR) have been reported with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We report a case of 50-year-old woman who observed an enlarged lymph node in the right hilar region and the appearance of a subcutaneous mass in the extremities during chemotherapy with atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Skin biopsy revealed the formation of epithelioid granulation species with the Langhans giant cell. After discontinuing atezolizumab in the treatment procedure, the hilar lymph nodes and the subcutaneous mass were reduced. A pathological examination was effective in differentiating tumor exacerbation from SLR. Owing to limited information on ICI-related SLR in breast cancer, future studies are recommended to properly manage immune-related adverse effects during cancer treatment.

The Minimal Important Difference of the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) Questionnaire for Patients with Posterior Compartment Prolapse: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The minimally important difference (MID) of the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) scale has never been determined. Thus, in this study, we aimed to estimate the MID of the Japanese FIQL for patients with posterior compartment prolapse (PCP). METHODS: For 3-months after surgery, we followed a prospective cohort of 136 patients with PCP combined with fecal incontinence (FI) who had undergone ventral rectopexy between 2012 and 2018. Usable data from 114 patients were analyzed. Patients have both completed the FIQL and the 36-Item Short Forum Health Survey (SF-36) before and after surgery. Distribution-based MID values were estimated at 1/2 SD and the standard error of measurement (SEM) for domain and total scores across time points. Changes in the domain scores anchored to changes in a SF-36 overall health assessment question were used to estimate anchor-based MID. To be interpreted as true change, the median, anchor-based MID values that were greater than the corresponding SEM were proposed as estimates of the MID for the FIQL. RESULTS: Distribution-based MID of 1/2 SD for each domain and total score ranged between 0.3 and 0.4, whereas SEM ranges were between 0.2 and 0.3. The anchor-based approach resulted in the median MID estimates of 0.4 to 1.0. Final estimates of MID for each FIQL and total score were as follows: lifestyle (0.6-1.1), coping/behavior (0.8-1.4), depression/self-perception (0.4-0.8), embarrassment (1.0-1.6), and total score (0.7-1.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a basis for clinically important differences in FIQL scores after surgery for patients with PCP and FI.

Early postoperative outcomes of a novel nonexcisional technique using aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid sclerotherapy with mucopexy on patients with grade III hemorrhoids.

PURPOSE: Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA; Zion, Mitsubishi Pharma Corp.) is an effective sclerosing agent for internal hemorrhoids. ALTA therapy with a rectal mucopexy (AM) is a new approach for treating hemorrhoidal prolapse. This study compared the early postoperative outcomes of AM surgery with Doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization and mucopexy (DM) in patients with third-degree hemorrhoids. METHODS: AM surgery was performed on 32 patients with grade III hemorrhoids and was compared with a cohort of 22 patients who underwent DM surgery in a previous randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: The pain scores during defecation were significantly lower in the AM patients beginning 4 days after surgery. The total use of analgesics 2 weeks postoperatively was significantly lower in the AM patients than in the DM patients (3.5 tablets [range 1.6-5.5] vs. 7.6 tablets [range 3.3-11.9], P=0.04). The length of operation, blood loss, and incidence of postoperative complications were significantly lower in the AM patients than in the DM patients. During 12 months follow-up, recurrence of prolapse occurred in 1 patient who underwent AM surgery. CONCLUSION: AM surgery is effective, with lower complication rates and postoperative analgesic requirements, and is a less invasive treatment for patients with grade III hemorrhoids compared to DM surgery.

Periodontal Tissue Healing After Autologous Tooth Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis of Case Series.

PURPOSE: Tooth transplantation is a treatment that uses non-functional teeth to compensate for defects caused by tooth extractions. Surgical procedures have yielded high success rates in autologous tooth transplantation using a tooth with a complete root. This study aimed to evaluate periodontal tissue healing after transplantation of 14 molar teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen individuals aged 28-53 years who underwent autologous transplantation of third molars with completely developed roots between December 2010 and March 2017 were included in the study. The donor tooth was carefully extracted, placed into the prepared transplant site, and stabilised with an orthodontic wire and 4-0 silk sutures for a few weeks. Endodontic treatment was performed after 3-4 weeks. To evaluate the periodontal tissue healing, clinical measurements of the probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and keratinised gingival width (KGW) were performed, along with radiographic examinations of bone defect fill (BDF) at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The changes in PPD and CAL at baseline, 6, and 12 months were statistically significant (P <0.05). KGW did not show a statistically significant decrease. The postoperative-BDF amount at 6 and 12 months was 2.2 ± 1.4 and 4.2 ± 1.4 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Periodontal tissue healing may occur in tooth autotransplantation even in the presence of complete root development in the donor tooth.

Bidet Toilet Use May Cause Anal Symptoms and Nosocomial Infection.

Electric bidet toilets are widely used in Japan and are sanitary devices, that are integral to daily life. Approximately, half of the population washed the anus before or after defecation. Cleaning the anus after defecation using the bidets contributes to hand hygiene and local comfort, and it may be effective against constipation. However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI). Physicians are advised to instruct patients with anal pruritus to avoid excessive cleaning of the anus and those with AI to discontinue bidet use. For the estimation of the inherent severity of AI, physicians should instruct a bidet user with AI to discontinue bidet use and assess the severity of AI later. Additionally, the nozzle surface and splay water of bidet toilets may be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, rendering them a potential vehicle for cross-infection. In the hospital setting, compromised patients must be cautious regarding the shared use of bidet toilets to prevent infection by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Specifically, they should be provided with bidet toilets exclusive for them or may need to be instructed to not use a bidet.

Predictive Factors for Recurrence of External Rectal Prolapse after Laparoscopic Ventral Rectopexy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate factors that contribute to the recurrence of external rectal prolapse (ERP) following laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR). METHODS: All patients who underwent LVR using synthetic meshes between 2011 and 2018 were prospectively included. A standard questionnaire including the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) and Constipation Scoring System (CSS) was administered preoperatively and postoperatively. Defecography was performed 6 months postoperatively. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate Cox analysis was performed to determine the prognostic factors of recurrence. RESULTS: In total, 132 patients with a median follow-up of 46 months were included. The overall recurrence rate was 6.8% (n = 9), as confirmed by defecography at 6 months in six of the patients. None of the patients developed mesh erosion. FISI and CSS scores were significantly reduced at 3 months and remained significantly reduced for 3 years. Multivariate analyses revealed that the predictors of recurrence included male sex (hazards ratio, 11.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-43.0) and age >80 years (hazards ratio, 10.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-86.3). Eight patients with recurrence underwent surgery via Delorme's procedure (n = 7) and posterior rectopexy (n = 1). Two patients with new-onset rectoanal intussusception and one with uncorrected sigmoidocoele underwent repeat LVR. CONCLUSIONS: LVR is effective in treating ERP with low morbidity and low recurrence. Male patients and patients older than 80 years are at increased risk of recurrence. Hence, the LVR technique should be modified or coupled with other perineal procedures when treating ERP, especially in male patients.

A Retrospective Investigation on Electric Bidet Use as a Possible Cause of Anal Incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to explore whether symptoms of anal incontinence (AI) in patients who used electric bidet toilets to clean the anus may improve after discontinuing bidet use. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with AI who habitually used the bidets before or after defecation and were examined between June 2019 and September 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Questionnaires on Likert-scaled items that assessed bidet use were administered at baseline. The sum of all points was regarded as the "bidet use score". The patients were instructed to discontinue bidets until subsequent examination. Incontinence severity was documented using the fecal incontinence severity index (FISI) score. RESULTS: Follow-up data were available for 49 patients (92%). Of those, 43 had fecal incontinence and 6 had only mucus discharge at baseline. The median duration between the baseline and follow-up was 4 weeks. The median FISI score was significantly reduced at the follow-up [baseline vs. follow-up: 15 (range: 3-43) vs. 10 (range: 0-43); P < 0.0001]. The incidence of fecal incontinence was significantly lower at the follow-up than at the baseline (59% vs. 88%, P = 0.003). A higher maximum squeeze pressure and the absence of associated factors that may cause AI (such as rectoanal intussusception and/or rectocele, mucosal prolapse, and previous anorectal surgery) were significantly associated with a reduction of at least 50% in the FISI scores at follow-up; however, this was not observed for the bidet use score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that electric bidet use is a possible cause of AI.

Japanese Practice Guidelines for Fecal Incontinence Part 1-Definition, Epidemiology, Etiology, Pathophysiology and Causes, Risk Factors, Clinical Evaluations, and Symptomatic Scores and QoL Questionnaire for Clinical Evaluations-English Version.

Fecal incontinence (FI) is defined as involuntary or uncontrollable loss of feces. Gas incontinence is defined as involuntary or uncontrollable loss of flatus, while anal incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of feces or flatus. The prevalence of FI in people over 65 in Japan is 8.7% in the male population and 6.6% among females. The etiology of FI is usually not limited to one specific cause, with risk factors for FI including physiological factors, such as age and gender; comorbidities, such as diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome; and obstetric factors, such as multiple deliveries, home delivery, first vaginal delivery, and forceps delivery. In the initial clinical evaluation of FI, the factors responsible for individual symptoms are gathered from the history and examination of the anorectal region. The evaluation is the basis of all medical treatments for FI, including initial treatment, and also serves as a baseline for deciding the need for a specialized defecation function test and selecting treatment in stages. Following the general physical examination, together with history taking, inspection (including anoscope), and palpation (including digital anorectal and vaginal examination) of the anorectal area, clinicians can focus on the causes of FI. For the clinical evaluation of FI, it is useful to use Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), such as scores and questionnaires, to evaluate the symptomatic severity of FI and its influence over quality of life (QoL).

Japanese Practice Guidelines for Fecal Incontinence Part 2-Examination and Conservative Treatment for Fecal Incontinence- English Version.

Examination for fecal incontinence is performed in order to evaluate the condition of each patient. As there is no single method that perfectly assesses this condition, there are several tests that need to be conducted. These are as follows: anal manometry, recto anal sensitivity test, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, electromyogram, anal endosonography, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and defecography. In addition, the mental and physical stress most patients experience during all these examinations needs to be taken into consideration. Although some of these examinations mostly apply for patients with constipation, we hereby describe these tests as tools for the assessment of fecal incontinence. Conservative therapies for fecal incontinence include diet, lifestyle, and bowel habit modification, pharmacotherapy, pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback therapy, anal insert device, trans anal irrigation, and so on. These interventions have been identified to improve the symptoms of fecal incontinence by determining the mechanisms resulting in firmer stool consistency; strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, including the external anal sphincter; normalizing the rectal sensation; or periodic emptying of the colon and rectum. Among these interventions, diet, lifestyle, and bowel habit modifications and pharmacotherapy can be performed with some degree of knowledge and experience. These two therapies, therefore, can be conducted by all physicians, including general practitioners and other physicians not specializing in fecal incontinence. However, patients with fecal incontinence who did not improve following these initial therapies should be referred to specialized institutions. Contrary to the initial therapies, specialized therapies, including pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback therapy, anal insert device, and trans anal irrigation, should be conducted in specialized institutions as these require patient education and instructions based on expert knowledge and experience. In general, conservative therapies should be performed for fecal incontinence before surgery because its pathophysiologies are mostly attributed to benign conditions. All Japanese healthcare professionals who take care of patients with fecal incontinence are expected to understand the characteristics of each conservative therapy, so that appropriate therapies will be selected and performed. Therefore, in this chapter, the characteristics of each conservative therapy for fecal incontinence are described.

Japanese Practice Guidelines for Fecal Incontinence Part 3 -Surgical Treatment for Fecal Incontinence, Fecal Incontinence in a Special Conditions- English Version.

In Japan, the surgical treatment for fecal incontinence (FI) can be performed using minimally invasive surgery, such as anal sphincteroplasty and sacral neuromodulation (SNM), as well as antegrade continence enema (ACE), graciloplasty, and stoma construction. In addition, currently, several other procedures, including biomaterial injection therapy, artificial bowel sphincter (ABS), and magnetic anal sphincter (MAS), are unavailable in Japan but are performed in Western countries. The evidence level of surgical treatment for FI is generally low, except for novel procedures, such as SNM, which was covered by health insurance in Japan since 2014. Although the surgical treatment algorithm for FI has been chronologically modified, it should be sequentially selected, starting from the most minimally invasive procedure, as FI is a benign condition. Injuries to the neural system or spinal cord often cause disorders of the sensory and motor nerves that innervate the anus, rectum, and pelvic floor, leading to the difficulty in controlling bowel movement or FI and/or constipation. FI and constipation are closely associated; when one improves, the other tends to deteriorate. Patients with severe cognitive impairment may present with active soiling, referred to as "incontinence" episodes that occur as a consequence of abnormal behavior, and may also experience passive soiling.