Search

Background: Surgical treatment of end-stage faecal incontinence has its origin in the early 1950s. Interest has been revived as a result of technical advances achieved in the recent past. The purpose of this article is to review the principles that underlie the use of skeletal muscle transposition around the anal canal and of electrical stimulation in the treatment of incontinence, and to explore new methods of treatment of this condition., Methods: A literature search was performed using Pubmed and Medline, employing keywords related to treatment of faecal incontinence by neosphincter reconstruction. Basic science and clinical aspects of neosphincter reconstruction were gathered from relevant texts, original articles and recently published abstracts., Results: The electrically stimulated gracilis neoanal sphincter seems to be the popular choice of biological neosphincter. It is more likely to produce higher resting anal canal pressures than the unstimulated neosphincter, and hence improved continence. However, electrostimulator failure may result in explantation in a proportion of patients. Impairment of evacuation is a functional setback in approximately one-third of patients with the gracilis neosphincter. Overall, improvement of continence may be expected in up to 90 per cent of patients according to some reports. By contrast, experience with the artificial neosphincter, which is less expensive, has been limited to a few tertiary centres across the world. Reported continence of stool is 100 per cent, and that of gas and stool 50 per cent, following implantation of the artificial sphincter. Both of the above operations have been associated with implant-related infection and impaired evacuation., Conclusion: Neoanal sphincter operations are technically demanding, require a considerable learning experience and should be confined to specialist colorectal centres. Patients are likely to benefit from a plan that incorporates preoperative counselling and a selective approach.

Levels of plasma cytokines and circulating endotoxin were assessed in 41 patients with severe intra-abdominal sepsis. Comparison was made with the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system. Blood samples were taken within 24 h of onset of the sepsis syndrome and at serial times thereafter. Increased levels of interleukin (IL) 6 (range 50-25,500 pg/ml) were detectable in all patients with sepsis. Eighteen of the 19 deaths were attributable to sepsis and higher levels of IL-6 at the onset of the sepsis syndrome correlated with a poor outcome. The sensitivity of IL-6 concentration in predicting mortality was 86.4 per cent with a specificity of 78.9 per cent and an overall correct classification rate of 82.9 per cent. IL-6 level was a better predictor than APACHE II score (sensitivity 72.7 per cent, specificity 57.9 per cent, correct classification rate 65.9 per cent). Levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha, IL-1 beta and endotoxin did not correlate with mortality rate. Plasma IL-6 concentrations may help in planning future strategies to decrease the mortality rate associated with sepsis.

A non-randomized prospective study of 38 patients, 32 with ulcerative colitis and six with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), who underwent high or low anal transection during stapled restorative proctocolectomy was undertaken. The median (range) height of the staple line 6 months after operation was 5.2 (3.2-6.0) cm after high transection compared with 2.9 (1.8-3.6) cm after low transection. Nineteen of 20 patients after high anal transection had columnar epithelium in the distal 'doughnut' versus 16 of 18 after low transection. Active colitis was present in 12 of 19 'doughnuts' in patients with high anal transection and columnar mucosa and in seven of 16 after low transection. Nine patients (high transection two, low transection seven; P < 0.05) had striated muscle in the stapled distal 'doughnut'. Dysplasia was found in the resected colon in one patient with ulcerative colitis and adenocarcinoma in two colectomy specimens (ulcerative colitis, one; FAP, one). No dysplasia or carcinoma was seen in any of the 'doughnuts' from patients with ulcerative colitis. Four patients with FAP (high transection, two; low transection, two) had microadenoma in the distal 'doughnut'. Despite attempts to place a stapled pouch-anal anastomosis below the anal transition zone, it was not possible to remove columnar mucosa completely from the remaining anal canal in most patients (16 of 18). High anal transection and pouch-anal anastomosis should be the preferred option in restorative proctocolectomy, as a dentate-line anastomosis may not fully eliminate columnar epithelium and may involve resection of some of the external sphincter.

A randomized trial was performed to compare abdominal resection rectopexy and pelvic floor repair (n = 10) with perineal rectosigmoidectomy and pelvic floor repair (n = 10) in elderly female patients with full-thickness rectal prolapse and faecal incontinence. There were no recurrences of full-thickness prolapse following resection rectopexy but one after rectosigmoidectomy. Continence to liquid and solid stool was achieved in nine patients, with faecal soiling reported in only two, after resection rectopexy and in eight, with soiling in six, following rectosigmoidectomy. The median (range) frequency of defaecation was only 1 (1-3) per day following resection rectopexy compared with 3 (1-6) per day after rectosigmoidectomy. There was an increase in the mean(s.d.) maximum resting pressure after resection rectopexy (19.3(15.28) cmH2O) compared with a reduction following rectosigmoidectomy (-3.4(13.75) cmH2O) (P = 0.003). Mean(s.d.) compliance was also greater after resection rectopexy than following rectosigmoidectomy (3.9(0.75) versus 2.2(0.78) ml/cmH2O, P < 0.001). Abdominal resection rectopexy gives better functional and physiological results than perineal rectosigmoidectomy.

A randomized controlled trial in women with neuropathic faecal incontinence compared total pelvic floor repair (n = 12) with anterior levatorplasty and sphincter plication alone (n = 12) and postanal repair alone (n = 12). Review at 6 and 24 months indicated that results were significantly better for total pelvic floor repair than either of the other procedures. Complete continence was achieved in eight of the 12 patients 2 years after total pelvic floor repair. Only total repair significantly elongated the anal canal. Both total pelvic floor repair and anterior levatorplasty improved sensation in the upper anal canal.