The effect of abdominal ventral rectopexy on faecal incontinence and constipation in patients with internal intra-anal rectal intussusception.

AIM: Optimal treatment of anal incontinence in a patients with a normal anal sphincter is controversial, as is the role of intra-anal rectal intussusception in anal incontinence. We evaluated the results of abdominal ventral rectopexy on anal continence in such patients. METHOD: Forty consecutive patients with incontinence and intra-anal rectal intussusception without a sphincter defect were treated by abdominal ventral mesh rectopexy without sigmoidectomy. The Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS), patient satisfaction and constipation before and after surgery and recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: The mean CCI scores were 13.2 (=/-4.25) preoperatively and 3 (±3.44) postoperatively (P<0.0001). Patient assessment was reported as 'cured' in 26 (65%), 'improved' in 13 (32.5%) and 'unchanged' in one (2.5%) patient. Constipation was induced in two (5%) patients and was cured in 13 of 20 (65%) patients who were constipated before surgery. One case of recurrent prolapse occurred after a mean follow-up of 38 months. CONCLUSION: Intra-anal rectal intussusception may be associated with anal incontinence. For these patients, abdominal ventral mesh rectopexy appears to be an adequate treatment.

Benefits of perineal colostomy on perineal morbidity after abdominoperineal resection.

PURPOSE: Abdominoperineal resection has a high rate of postoperative morbidity of the perineal wound. This study aimed to determine the effects of perineal colostomy on perineal morbidity after abdominoperineal resection. METHODS: All patients who underwent an abdominoperineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma between 1993 and 2007 were studied. Two groups were identified and compared who had undergone either an iliac colostomy or a perineal colostomy. RESULTS: The analysis included 110 patients (iliac colostomy group, n = 41; perineal colostomy group, n = 69). There were fewer instances of pelviperineal morbidity (P = .008) and fewer instances of wound dehiscence (P = .02) in the perineal colostomy group, which resulted in a shorter time to healing (35.3 vs 45.1 d, respectively; P = .04). There was no specific postoperative morbidity in any patient and no difference between the 2 groups regarding long-term perineal morbidity. The benefits from perineal colostomy were statistically significant in patients who received radiation therapy in terms of pelviperineal morbidity (P = .01) and healing time (50.8 vs 35.9 days, respectively; P = .02), whereas no difference was found in patients who had not received radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Perineal colostomy is a safe and functionally acceptable procedure for perineal reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma. In the present study, there was no additional morbidity related to perineal colostomy, and this procedure was associated with a decrease in perineal morbidity and healing time compared with primary perineal closure, in particular, after radiotherapy treatment.

Efficacy of synthetic glue treatment of high crypoglandular fistula-in-ano.

OBJECTIVES: In France, seton drainage followed by fistulotomy is currently the standard treatment for high cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano. Biological or synthetic glues, such as Glubran(®) 2, have been recently proposed for sealing the fistula tract. The purpose of this study is to determine the healing rate with glubran 2 and to assess the functional outcome after cure of fistula-in-ano. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2006 to July 2008, 34 patients (20 males; median age 48.5 years, range 22-55 years) with high cryptoglandular anal fistulas were treated with glubran 2. Patients were seen for physical examination at 1, 3 and 6 months, then interviewed by telephone at 1 and 2 years, and in September 2009. The Fecal incontinence severity index (FISI) score was used to assess continence. RESULTS: The healing rate at 1 month was 67.6% (23 patients); the fistula failed to heal in 11 patients. All 23 patients with a healed fistula remained recurrence-free, with no continence disorders noted, during the median 34-month follow-up period (range 21-43 months). One patient was lost to follow-up after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Glubran 2 provides an effective treatment for high fistula-in-ano, with no change in continence. In future, a randomized comparison of this agent with fibrin glues should be useful.

Hepatectomy with initial suprahilar control of intrahepatic portal pedicles.

In 1985 Couinaud described an original technique for left hepatectomy. This technique is based on initial control of the left intrahepatic portal pedicle after wedge incision of the hepatic capsule is made and the hilar plate is lowered before the hepatic parenchyma is opened. The vascular and biliary pedicular elements are dissected concomitantly at a point where they are protected by and contained within a sheath emanating from the hepatic capsule. After elective clamping of the pedicle at this level is done, the territory to be removed becomes obvious by the change of color produced by ischemia, and bleeding is minimized preventively. Although Couinaud's technique concerned only one case of left hepatectomy, we confirmed the ease, safety, and reproducibility afforded by this technique in four left hepatectomies. Based on the same principles, this technique may be used for other types of hepatic resections, notably, left hepatectomy extended to segments 5 and 8 (trisegmentectomies). We report our experience with this technique in 15 cases of major hepatic resections.

Fecal continence following partial resection of the anal canal in distal rectal cancer: long-term results after coloanal anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of partial excision of the superior portion of the anal canal (AC) when necessary for tumor margin clearance in distal rectal cancer on fecal continence after coloanal anastomoses. METHODS: Between 1977 to 1993, 209 patients with middle and lower third rectal cancers underwent complete rectal excision and coloanal anastomoses. For very low tumors, located at or below 5 cm from the anal verge (AV), varying portions of the superior segment of the AC were excised for tumor margin clearance. The magnitude of resections was inversely proportional to the height of the anastomosis from the AV. The patients were categorized into 3 groups according to their level of anastomoses from AV: group 1, patients with anastomoses from 0.5 to less than 2 cm from AV (1 to 2.5 cm of AC resected, i.e., major resection); group 2, anastomoses at 2 to less than 3 cm from AV (less than 1 cm of AC resected, i.e., minor resection); group 3, with anastomoses at 3 to 3.5 cm from AV (AC completely preserved). A standard questionnaire, physical examination, and anal manometry at intervals of 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months were performed prospectively to assess anal continence. RESULTS: The patients in the 3 categories were matched for age, gender, stage, presence or absence of a colonic J-pouch, preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy and surgical technique. Fourteen patients with postoperative radiotherapy were excluded from the clinical assessment. Mean follow-up was 33.5 months. There were 43 patients in group 1, 75 in group 2, and 73 in group 3 for clinical assessment. In the first year, there was progressive improvement in anal continence in all 3 groups. At 2 years, 50% in group 1, 73% in group 2, and 62% in group 3 were fully continent. The proportion of patients fully continent in group 1 remained unchanged as compared to continued improvement for groups 2 and 3 following the first year. At 4 years, 50% in group 1, 80% in group 2, and 68% in group 3 were completely continent. The difference among the 3 groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: For distal rectal cancer, where tumor margin clearance necessitates partial resection of the superior portion of the AC, when limited to less than 1 cm, the proportion of patients remaining fully continent is similar to those with complete AC preservation. More substantial excisions of the AC can still result in satisfactory anal continence, such that following the fourth year, one half of the patients can expect to be fully continent.

[Surgical treatment of cancer of the pancreas]. / Traitement chirurgical du cancer du pancréas.

Resection of the pancreas is still the only way to cure patients with pancreatic cancer. Morbidity and mortality rates following pancreatico-duodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas have decreased. Survival has improved during the past several decades.

[Unresectable giant hepatic hemangioma and Kasabach-Merritt syndrome]. / Hémangiome hépatique géant inextirpable et syndrome de Kasabach-Merritt.

The Kasabach-Merritt syndrome was first described in children with cutaneous hemangiomas, but it can exceptionally be associated with visceral hemangiomas, especially in adults. Clotting and fibrinolysis within the hemangioma are thought to cause the coagulopathy observed in the so-called Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. This localised form of intra-vascular coagulation can progress to a secondary increased systemic fibrinolysis with fatal outcome for 20 to 30% of the patients. A transient control of hematologic abnormalities can frequently be obtained with blood product support (platelets, fibrinogen, fresh plasma, cryoprecipitates) and heparinotherapy. But in the adult, the only radical alternative is surgical excision if technically feasible. We reported here the case of a 43 year-old woman with a giant unresectable hepatic hemangioma complicated with a Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

[Surgery of rectal cancer: total exeresis of the mesorectum]. / Chirurgie du cancer du rectum: l'exérèse totale du mésorectum.

The authors review the recent literature about total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. They report the actual management of such patients.

[Anatomy of pelvic nerves and ileo-anal anastomosis]. / Anatomie des nerfs pelviens et anastomose iléo-anale.

The risk of sexual sequelae after proctectomy for inflammatory disease or polyposis is moderate, but real. The pelvic nerves can be easily spared at the sites where they are most frequently damaged, i.e. anterior to the sacral promontory and on the lateral walls of the pelvis. In contrast, damage to the cavernosal nerves situated on either side of the posterior surface of the prostate is more difficult to avoid, essentially because of the anatomy of these nerves is poorly understood.

[Cancer of the rectum: distal intramural spread is correlated with lymph node involvement]. / Cancer du rectum: l'extension intra-pariétale distale est corrélée à l'envahissement ganglionnaire.

Cancers of the rectum are only rarely associated with distal intraparietal microscopic extension situated below the apparent pole of the tumour. When such extension exists, it may be either limited to several millimetres and is generally continuous with the tumour, or it may be extensive and composed of tumour lesions separated from the principal lesion by healthy tissue. On 119 rectal resection specimens for cancer, distal intraparietal extension was found to be significantly correlated with the degree and multiplicity of lymph node involvement. Tumours without distal intramural extension were associated with lymph node invasion in only 20% of cases and half of them were multiple involvements. In contrast, the frequency of lymph node invasion in cases of distal intramural extension was 80% with multiple node involvement in every case. In cases of distal intraparietal invasion, immuno-histochemical techniques demonstrated tumour emboli in the vessels and lymphatics. In cases of the rectum, lymph node invasion and its multiplicity are directly related to the presence of distal intraparietal invasion.

[Preservation of sexual innervation in the surgery of rectal cancers]. / Préservation de l'innervation sexuelle dans la chirurgie du cancer du rectum.

Eighteen out of 55 rectal resections for cancer included preservation of sexual innervation, which was complete in 17 cases and partial in one case. Fourteen patients were evaluated by questionnaire one year after resection; 10 out of 14 (71.4%) did not report any sexual disorders.

[Local treatment of "small cancers" of the rectum: excision is preferable to electrocoagulation]. / Traitement local des "petits cancers" du rectum: l'excision est préférable à l'électro-coagulation.

From 1973 to 1990, 50 patients with a "small cancer" of the rectum were treated locally either by electrocoagulation or by local excision using an electrical scalpel. 20 patients were treated by electrocoagulation. Their 5-year actuarial survival was 78.3% and the local recurrence rate was 16.5%. 4 treated patients by local excision had a lesion which invaded the serosa and should have been amputated as primary procedure. Three of them relapsed. 26 patients were treated by local excision for a lesion confined to the rectal wall. Their 5-year actuarial survival was 94.4% and the local recurrence rate was 4.5%. The difference in survival and recurrence was significant between electrocoagulation and excision of a lesion confined to the rectal wall. These results suggest that excision is preferable to electrocoagulation as it allows prediction of the result by pathological examination of the operative specimen.

[Inguinal hernia. The Shouldice parietal repair]. / Hernie inguinale. Réparation pariétale de Shouldice.

Parietal repair according to the Shouldice technique consists of a double line of sutures on each of three musculo-aponeurotic layers of the groin, i.e. successively: plicature of the transverse muscle and attachments; aponeuroplasty by back-to-back suture of the internal and external oblique muscles, and plicature of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle. Parietal repair of this kind is only possible after wide dissection of the inguinal region. It can be performed under local anaesthesia during a short hospitalization period. Normal activity is rapidly resumed, and in the experience of those who favour this technique, the recurrence rate is a mere 1%.

[Rectal prolapse]. / Le prolapsus du rectum.

Rectal prolapse and rectal intussuception correspond to two stages of the same disease. Rectal prolapse is unusual but requires surgical treatment. Abdominal rectopexy is the most effective procedure but increases the risk of postoperative constipation. This risk decreases when the lateral sides are not touched during rectal dissection. The Delorme procedure is associated with a higher rate of recurrence and must be reserved for patients presenting a high risk of postoperative complications. Rectal intussuception is more frequent and is pathological only when arising in the anal sphincter. Rectal intussuception may lead to solitary rectal ulcer and has in this case to be treated by rectopexy. Rectal intussuception involvement in terminal constipation is not yet proved. Internal mucosectomy seems to be the best treatment for terminal constipation.

[Treatment of inguinal hernia using Shouldice's technic]. / Cure de hernie inguinale selon la technique de Shouldice.

The very high frequency of recurrence of inguinal hernia after surgical repair during the 30s led Earl Shouldice to devote his efforts to the study of this affection. In 1945 he opened an institution for the purpose of treatment of hernia, and since then a total of 130,000 operations have been performed. Progressive advances in the techniques used have enabled the relapse rate to be reduced to less than 1%, and the procedure used at the present time is described.

[Local antibiotic prophylaxis for repair of inguinal hernia]. / Antibioprophylaxie locale pour cure de hernie inguinale.

A controlled randomized trial was carried out in 324 patients with inguinal hernia. Efficacy was evaluated of a single injection of cefamandole (n = 162) administered at operative site during local anesthesia, using an untreated group as control (n = 162), as prophylaxis against post-operative local infection. Seven patients in the control group developed abscesses at the operative site after discharge, 6 of the 7 during one-month follow up, compared with none in the treated group (n = 0.07). No side effects were reported due to the antibiotic therapy. The cost of the antibiotic treatment was 10 times less than that for treating the suppurations in the control group.

[Rupture of the spleen in patients with multiple injuries. Current diagnostic methods. Apropos of 60 cases]. / La rupture de rate chez les polytraumatisés. Moyens actuels de diagnostic. A propos de 60 observations

The authors report 60 cases of severe multiple injuries and study present methods permitting a rapid diagnosis of latent rupture of the spleen. Purely clinical methods are today supplemented by paraclinical investigations. e.g. --intra-abdominal catheterisation; --peritoneal wash-out; --laparoscopy; --and, above all, arteriography. The authors use these methods and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.

[Evaluation of systemic antibiotic preventive treatment in colorectal surgery]. / Appréciation de l'antibio-prophylaxie systémique en chirurgie colo-rectale.

A comparison was made of two methods of prophylactic antibiotic therapy against the septic complications of colonic and rectal surgery: --preoperative oral antibiotics associated with peroperative systemic antibiotics; --peroperative systemic antibiotics only, continued for 24 hours after surgery. Both types of antibiotic therapy were of short duration and were designed to cover aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Two groups of 30 patients were selected at random. They were homogeneous. The septic complication rate was 10% in the oral plus systemic and 24% in the systemic group. It is felt that the combination of oral and systemic antibiotics remains preferable, in particular bearing in mind the efficacy of oral metronidazole.