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Background: The aim of this study was to confirm some selection criteria for the transrectal repair of the anterior rectocele and to compare our surgical results with those reported in the literature., Methods: From January 1992 to December 1999, 30 females (mean age 52.9 years, range 28-70 yrs) affected by anterior rectocele were prospectively evaluated with a standard questionnaire, clinical examination, proctosigmoidoscopy, colonic transit time, dynamic defecography, anal EMG, anal manometry. Then, they were submitted to transrectal repair of rectocele with anterior plication of the rectal muscular wall. Fourteen (46.6%) of them were also submitted to perineal levatorplasty. Patients were followed postoperatively (mean 25.7 months) with the same standard questionnaire, clinical examination, defecography, and manometry. Results were tested by Fisher's Exact text, Wilcoxon's test, and "t"-test., Results: Rectal dyschezia, incomplete evacuation, digital help in defecating, mean stool frequency, and rectal bleeding significantly improved. After 3 months, 30% of patients had no complaints, 40% had only 1-2 episodes/month complaints, 13.3% had evacuation only using laxatives, and 16.6% were unchanged. Defecography showed a significant reduction of the rectocele in 70% of patients after 3 months. Manometric parameters were not significantly modified. Four (28.6%) out of 14 patients submitted to perineal levatorplasty complained of dyspareunia., Conclusions: Our surgical results were comparable with those reported in the literature, with more than 80% of successful outcome. Preoperative clinical data and defecography were confirmed to be basic parameters in selecting patients for surgery. Colonic transit time, anal EMG, and anorectal manometry demonstrated to be useful to recognize conditions as slow colonic transit time, peripheral denervation, and reduced voluntary contraction that could lead to a less satisfactory outcome after surgery, and might benefit with a postoperative perineal rehabilitation by biofeedback and anal electrostimulations. The perineal levatorplasty is not suitable in young females, due to the risk of dyspareunia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the functional and clinical results of laparotomic and laparoscopic rectopexy in 2 homogeneous groups of patients with complete rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence., Methods: Between January 1989 and December 1997, twenty-three patients underwent abdominal rectopexy. Thirteen patients (group A, 12 females and 1 male, mean age 57.3, range 22-76 years), and 10 patients (group B, 10 females, mean age 52.3, range 26-70 years) were submitted respectively to either Wells laparotomic or laparoscopic rectopexy by the same surgical team using the same surgical technique and materials. Before the operation a detailed clinical history was collected, and the patients were studied by inspection and digital examination of the anorectum, proctosigmoidoscopy, pancolonic transit time, dynamic defecography, anorectal manometry and anal electromyography. After the operation all patients underwent perineal physiotherapy, external electric stimulation, and perineal biofeedback. Mean follow-up was 37.1 (range 6-90) months in group A and 25.7 (range 6-49) months in group B. Values were compared by chi(2), Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests as appropriate. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05., Results: In both groups dyschezia and fecal incontinence improved significantly (p < 0.05) after the operation. The basal pressure of the anal sphincter, squeezing pressure and rectoanal reflex improved without significance, and anal-perineal pain was not significantly reduced. In group B the postoperative hospital stay was lower than in group A, with a reduction in costs., Conclusion: Laparoscopic Wells rectopexy has the same clinical and functional results as laparotomic rectopexy, but with a shorter postoperative hospital stay and lower costs., (Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel)

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the functional and clinical results of laparoscopic rectopexy with those of the open technique in two similar groups of patients with complete rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence. Between November 1992 and June 1997, 21 patients underwent abdominal rectopexy. Thirteen patients (group A: 12 women and 1 man, mean age 52.9 years, range 28-70) and 8 patients (group B: 8 women, mean age 58.2 years, range 20-76) were submitted to Well's rectopexy by the open technique and the laparoscopic approach, respectively, without division of the lateral rectal ligaments. Assignment to each group was done randomly. Before the operation, a detailed clinical history was taken, and patients were studied with inspection and digital examination of the anorectum, proctosigmoidoscopy, determination of pancolonic transit time, dynamic defecography, anorectal manometry, and anal electromyography. After the operation, all patients underwent perineal physiotherapy, external electric stimulation, and perineal biofeedback. The mean follow-up time was 29.5 months (range 6-54) in group A and 25.7 months (range 8-45) in group B. Values were compared by chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests, as appropriate; differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. In both groups, dyschezia and fecal incontinence improved significantly (p < 0.05) after the operation. Basal pressure of anal sphincter, squeezing pressure, and rectoanal reflex improved without significance, whereas anoperineal pain was not significantly reduced. In group B, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter than in group A, with a marked reduction of costs. Laparoscopic Well's rectopexy has the same clinical and functional results as the open technique, with a shorter postoperative hospital stay and lower costs.

Background/aims: Milligan-Morgan's hemorrhoidectomy has a high recurrence rate (> 10%) in patients with circular IV grade hemorrhoids. In such cases a circular hemorrhoidectomy with complete elimination of residual piles, and anoplasty might be more successful. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the results of circular hemorrhoidectomy using the Hopital Leopold Bellan (HLB) technique (Paris) with the reported results of other techniques in patients with advanced hemorrhoidal disease., Methodology: From January 87 to December 96, 100 consecutive patients with circular IV grade hemorrhoids underwent radical hemorrhoidectomy. Mean hospital stay was 4 days (range 3-7). Patients were strictly controlled in the postoperative period and in cases of early fibrosis anal dilators were used., Results: Eighty one percent of patients had a complete recovery. The recurrence rate was 4%. The cumulative rate of early and late complications was 34%. Early and late hemorrhages were more frequent than in traditional hemorrhoidectomy, while the incidence of anal stenosis was the same., Conclusions: The HLB operation is the best choice for patients with advanced circular hemorrhoids because of its radicality and good results. The postoperative morbidity of HLB hemorrhoidectomy is higher than traditional hemorrhoidectomy; nevertheless, all complications are tractable without extension of hospital stay.

Rectocele, or namely the protrusion of the anterior wall of the rectum into the vaginal lumen following the collapse of the rectovaginal septum, is the most common anatomic alteration observed in patients suffering from defecation disorders. The surgical treatment of this pathology is still controversial, particularly in the choice of the surgical approach. From 1992 to 1994 10 patients suffering from low type, symptomatic anterior rectocele associated with intrarectal intussusception underwent muscular plastic surgery of the rectocele and anterior mucosectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether surgical muscular plastic of the rectocele using a transanal approach associated with anterior mucosectomy represents in selected symptomatic patients, a rational and elective therapeutic option. In spite of the small number of patients and the short postoperative follow-up, the authors state that, on the basis of the results obtained, the surgical technique used in this clinical series significantly improves symptoms with a lower incidence of complications compared to the transvaginal approach.

The distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) was compared with the side-t-side portacaval shunt (PCS) in 93 prospectively matched cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. After a mean follow-up of 38 months, no differences were observed in operative mortality, long term survival and variceal rebleeding between the two groups. There was no significant difference in terms of acute encephalopathy (22% in PCS group and 33% in DSRS group) and chronic encephalopathy (35% in PCS and 17% in DSRS). However, the only cases of severe and disabling chronic encephalopathy (CE) arose after PCS (p = 0.049). Actuarial curves of CE showed that the maximum rate of this complication (18%) in the DSRS group was reached 27 months after shunt surgery, whereas this value was reached and passed in PCS group only 4 months after shunt. CE occurred for a total duration of 20.1 months after PCS and only 11.1 months after DSRS (p = 0.003) and occupied 46.3% of the follow-up of PCS patients in contrast to 18.7% of the follow-up of DSRS patients (p = 0.001). DSRS is associated with a lower global incidence of CE without severe forms and provides a better quality of life than does a nonselective shunt.

A case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (post gonococcal perihepatitis) is reported. The patient proved to be affected by a typical case of the syndrome and the approach used concentrated on an accurate diagnosis and immediate therapy carried out during laparoscopic examination. A control examination after approximately one month confirmed the resolution of both perihepatitis and symptoms. The patient is now in good health some three years following the operation.

The distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) was compared with the side-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS) in 93 prospectively matched patients with portal hypertension. After 38 months mean follow-up the two shunts had a different incidence of acute encephalopathy (22% in PCS group and 33% in DSRS group) and chronic encephalopathy (35% in PCS group and 17% in DSRS group), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the only cases of severe and disabling chronic encephalopathy arose after PCS (p = 0.049). Actuarial curves of chronic encephalopathy showed that the maximum rate of encephalopathy (18%) in the DSRS group was reached 27 months after shunt surgery, whereas this value was reached and passed in PCS group only 4 months after shunt. Chronic encephalopathy occurred for a total duration of 20.1 months after PCS and only 11.1 months afer DSRS (p = 0.003) and occupied 46.3% of the follow-p of PCS patients, as contrasted to 18.7% of the follow-up of DSRS patients (p = 0.0001). DSRS is associated with a lower global incidence of chronic HE without severe forms and provides a better quality of life than does a nonselective shunt.

This paper analyzes experience with 106 patients treated primarily with DSRS during a ten year period. Operative mortality was 5% of cases. Shunt patency was evaluated by postoperative angiography in 70 patients. A shunt thrombosis and a recanalization of the splenic vein were noted in a patient who had a Britton's operation resulting in a side-to-side shunt. In the other 31 cases, shunt patency was indirectly confirmed by the absence of varices at postoperative or long-term endoscopic examination. At postoperative check, esophageal varices had disappeared in only 19% of patients. However, this rose to 60% at long-term check-up. Ten patients bled from varices in the postoperative period (9%). During the follow-up period, no patient bled from varices, while five patients bled from gastroduodenal lesions (5%). During the postoperative period, 52% of cases had ascites. In the long-term, ascites developed in only 15% of cases and was well controlled by standard medical treatment. Analysis of the actuarial curve showed a 5-year survival rate of 63%. During the follow-up period, 17% of patients experienced at least one episode of acute encephalopathy. Chronic encephalopathy appeared in 14% of cases: ten patients suffered a mild form (10%) and four (4%) a moderate form. No patient had severe chronic encephalopathy. DSRS is effective as treatment of portal hypertension with a low long-term morbidity despite a more troublesome early postoperative period.