Anorectal function after low anterior resection

Most patients with rectal carcinoma can now be treated with sphincter-sparing procedures. The quality of life after sphincter-sparing procedures is better than after abdominoperineal excision. However, morphology and physiology of the neorectum/sphincter complex are challenged and enthusians towards restorative surgery in rectal cancer was tempered by concerns over functional deficits: after low anterior resection a substantial portion of patients experience impaired anorectal function, in particular fecal leakage and urgency of defecation and report disturbed sexual function. The aim of our work was to investigate functional outcome and anorectal physiologic function as measured by manometry after the three most commonly used reconstructions of intestinal continuity: anterior rectal resection, low anterior rectal, and intersphincteric rectal resection.     

腹腔镜扩大左半结肠切除术

采用5孔法,经典中间入路。在右侧输尿管内侧2 cm切开,进入左侧Toldt间隙,自尾侧向头侧锐性分离,清扫肠系膜下动脉根部的淋巴脂肪组织。解剖降结肠及乙状结肠动脉,根部离断。十二指肠空肠曲左侧离断肠系膜下静脉根部,向外侧拓展降结肠后间隙、乙状结肠后间隙和直肠上段后间隙,确认左输尿管及生殖血管以防止损伤。切开并游离横结肠系膜,在胰颈下缘显露中结肠动静脉,于根部离断。沿降结肠沟剪开左侧腹膜,上至脾曲,下至直肠上段,与之前已拓展完成的左结肠后间隙汇合。自胃大弯侧血管弓内离断血管分支,直至根部切断胃网膜左血管,并切断脾结肠韧带,完全游离脾曲。于左侧经腹直肌切口切开腹壁,长约5 cm,将左半结肠拖出体外。在肿瘤近远端10～15 cm横断结肠,行端端吻合术。     

Anorectal function after low anterior resection for carcinoma.

Anorectal function was studied in 13 patients with carcinoma of the rectum 6-12 cm from the anal verge, which was treated by low anterior resection (LAR), and in 13 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Patients were studied before and 3 and 12 months after operation. Anal resting and squeeze pressures were the same in patients and control subjects and were decreased only moderately after surgery, with a slight increase in maximum squeeze pressure 12 months after operation. Three of the patients had an inverse rectoanal reflex before operation, and two had no reflex at all. After operation, only two patients showed a normal rectoanal inhibitory reflex, and none gained a normal reflex within 12 months after surgery. Rectal compliance was significantly reduced before operation, compared to control subjects, and was still significantly lower 3 months after operation. After 12 months, however, rectal compliance had returned to preoperative level in all but two patients with coloanal anastomosis, who still emptied the bowel 4-5 times daily.     

Anorectal and bladder function after sacrifice of the sacral nerves

STUDY DESIGN: The quantitative changes in anorectal and bladder functions after sacrifice of the sacral nerves were assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the bladder and anorectal functions before and after sacral nerve division in patients with sacral bone tumors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The quantitative changes in bladder and anorectal functions after sacrifice of the sacral nerves have not been intensively studied. The purpose of this investigation was to measure the bladder and anorectal function before and after sacral nerve division using manometry and cystometry. METHODS: Surgical resection of a sacral tumor was performed in five patients. The sacral nerves were sacrificed bilaterally in three patients and unilaterally in two patients. Anorectal function was evaluated on the basis of symptoms and physiologic tests. Micturition function was evaluated based on symptoms, and intravesical pressures were measured by cystometry. RESULTS: The two patients with unilateral sacral nerve loss did not experience subjective problems with defecation or micturition, although the residual volume of urine was increased after surgery. Two of the three patients with bilateral sacral nerve loss had no urge to defecate, were unable to differentiate between feces and flatus, and experienced no urgency. Fecal incontinence was uncommon because of firm feces. It was possible to control defecation using enemas on alternate days. The third patient underwent colostomy because the maximum resting pressure, which is controlled by the hypogastric nerves, was affected before surgery. CONCLUSION: Unilateral sacrifice of sacral nerves results in little bladder or anorectal dysfunction.     

腹腔镜左半结肠癌根治性切除术的手术体会

目的:探讨腹腔镜左半结肠癌根治性切除术的临床疗效及操作体会。方法:回顾分析2015年9月至2016年7月11例患者行腹腔镜下标准左半结肠癌根治术的临床资料,采用五孔法中间入路,操作过程中严格遵循层面间隙内游离及结肠恶性肿瘤根治原则。结果:11例患者均顺利完成标准腹腔镜辅助左半结肠癌根治术,手术时间平均(142.25±35.26)min,术中出血量平均(21.53±8.76)ml,清扫淋巴结数量平均(18.45±4.28)枚,肛门排气时间平均(30.48±8.23)h,平均住院(10.23±5.26)d。术后无切口愈合不良表现,术后出现肺部感染1例,腹腔感染1例,吻合口瘘1例,经营养支持、消炎、引流等保守治疗后痊愈,术后肠梗阻1例,保守治疗成功,术后1例发生腹腔内出血,再次行腹腔镜探查,发现为胰腺尾部创面边缘出血,行止血治疗。无围手术期死亡病例,患者均获随访,未发现切口肿瘤种植。结论:只要熟悉各个解剖层次,术中保持层面间隙内游离,避免过度牵拉,腹腔镜辅助左半结肠癌根治术是安全、有效的。     

Predicting conversion to open surgery in laparoscopic left hemicolectomy

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to quantify the risk of conversion to open surgery of laparoscopic left hemicolectomy at an early stage of the learning curve. METHODS: A multiple logistic regression analysis of 100 laparoscopic left hemicolectomies completed between April 2001 and May 2004 was performed. RESULTS: The overall conversion rate was 12%. At univariate analysis, 2 factors were found to be predictive of conversion to open surgery: malignancy (17.2% vs. 5%; P=0.046), and weight level (<60 kg=6.1%; 60 to 90 kg=11.3%; >90 kg=28.6%; P=0.049). At multiple logistic regression, the risk of conversion rose only for patients weighing more than 90 kg. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results of this study, the surgeon will be able to quantify the risk of conversion to laparotomy with some precision in order to obtain the informed consent of the first 100 patients to whom laparoscopic left hemicolectomy is proposed.     

Anorectal function following low anterior resection

Introduction Rectal function following rectal resection for carcinoma was studied in 43 patients. Methods Sixteen women and 27 men with a median age of 66 years (range 41–79 years) were included. Twenty‐three patients had a diverting ileostomy at the time of resection. Eight patients had a 6‐cm colonic J‐pouch. Ten patients had anastomotic leakage including two patients without diverting ileostomy. One patient had pre‐operative radiation with 25 Gy. The patients were studied at a median 12 months (range 3–30) after rectal resection. Distance from anal verge to the anastomosis was a median 7 cm (range 3–12 cm). Clinical data, anal manometry and rectal compliance were analysed. Results Stool frequency was 3 per day (range 1–10). Twenty‐two (51%) patients were continent, 11 (26%) were incontinent for flatus, and 10 (23%) were incontinent for faeces (three for liquid and seven for solid stool). Fourteen (33%) patients had constipation, two of whom also had incontinence for solid or liquid stool. The level of the anastomosis for patients with postoperative constipation was 5 cm (range 3–12 cm), while it was 7 cm (range 3–10 cm) for nonconstipated patients (NS). Anal manometry was normal. Rectal compliance was lower in patients with incontinence for liquid or solid faeces than in patients with flatus incontinence only (P < 0.01), and rectal volume tolerability was lower in incontinent patients compared with continent patients (P < 0.05). The rectoanal reflex was present in 31 (72%) patients. There was a negative correlation between maximal rectal volume and stool frequency and between level of the anastomosis and degree of incontinence. Age did not affect functional outcome. Conclusion Many patients had a poor functional result following low anterior resection. One in four suffered from incontinence to liquid or solid faeces and one third of the patients experienced constipation. A low level of anastomosis tended to increase stool frequency and carried a higher risk of incontinence. Patients with faecal incontinence tended to have lower rectal compliance and volume tolerability than patients who were continent, while there was no difference in anal pressures.     

Anorectal function in Crohn's disease.

Anorectal function was assessed in 63 patients with Crohn's disease and in 10 controls. Eleven patients with Crohn's disease (17%) were partially and three (5%) totally incontinent. The results of anal sphincter function studies of continent patients with Crohn's disease were similar to those of partially incontinent patients and controls. Incontinent patients had significantly lower maximal basal pressure (P less than 0.01) and significantly lower maximal squeeze pressure (P less than 0.05) as compared to controls. There was no significant difference in rectal capacity between continent, partially incontinent and totally incontinent patients and controls. There were significantly more patients with symptoms of anal incontinence in the group of patients with anal Crohn's disease as compared to the Crohn's group with normal anorectum (P less than 0.001). Risk factors for total anal incontinence in Crohn's disease were severe anorectal stenosis and previous surgery for anal abscesses. The most important reason for partial incontinence was diarrhoea. In conclusion, Crohn's disease without macroscopic lesions in the anorectum and without diarrhoea does not affect anorectal function.     

The segmentary colectomy or the left hemicolectomy for sigmoid cancer

The aim of this study was to show the benefits of segmentary colectomy (Raybard) for tumors located on sigmoid colon. A retrospective study was carried on 90 observations performed in the III-rd Surgery Clinic, Ia?i between 1994 and 1998. Types of surgery performed were: left hemicolectomy (7 observation); segmentary colectomy (54 observation); left lower colectomy (17 observation); Hartmann operation (12 observation). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis showed the same survival for segmentary colectomy and left hemicolectomy. We consider segmentary colectomy the basic operation for this type of cancer.     

Triiodothyronine-enhanced left ventricular function after ischemic injury

Hypothyroidism is associated with profound left ventricular dysfunction. Brain-dead organ donors and patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass are chemically hypothyroid with significantly reduced circulating free triiodothyronine (T3). To test the hypothesis that T3 enhances left ventricular function in a hormonally deficient environment, a total of 36 healthy New Zealand White rabbit hearts were studied using a modified Langendorff preparation with Krebs-Henseleit perfusate and intra-ventricular balloon. In 9 normal rabbit hearts a cumulative dose-response curve with logarithmically increasing doses of T3 was obtained. The vehicle solution for T3 dissolution served as control (n = 9). Left ventricular function was assessed from peak developed pressure at baseline and after T3 administration. Triiodothyronine had no effect in normal hearts on peak developed pressure or end-diastolic pressure. In 18 rabbits, the acute effect of T3 administration after ischemia was investigated. Preischemic left ventricular function was measured to serve as baseline, and hearts were subjected to 37 degrees C global ischemia. Triiodothyronine (n = 9) or vehicle (n = 9) was infused during reperfusion, and left ventricular peak developed pressure was measured at 30 and 60 minutes of reperfusion. Recovery of function (expressed as percent return of left ventricular peak developed pressure) was significantly improved within 15 minutes of reperfusion (65.0% +/- 2.1% versus 80.2% +/- 4.1%) and remained significantly improved throughout the reperfusion period (p less than 0.05 by analysis of variance). These data suggest that although T3 possesses no inotropic properties, it significantly improves postischemic left ventricular function. The rapidity of the functional improvement suggests that these effects may be due to plasma membrane-mediated mechanisms.     

Anorectal function after partial intersphincteric resection in ultra‐low rectal cancer

Aim To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of intersphincteric resection (ISR), in terms of postoperative anorectal function, for ultra‐low rectal cancer in mainland China. Method A total of 43 patients who consecutively underwent curative partial ISR for ultra‐low rectal cancer between 2006 and 2009 were enrolled in the study. Defaecatory function was assessed, using detailed questionnaires, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The Wexner score was used to assess faecal continence, and anal manometry studies were performed to analyse anal sphincter function. Results Overall defaecatory function was assessed as being satisfactory in 41 of 43 patients. Twelve months after surgery, the mean Wexner score was 4.0 ± 3.6. Anal manometry studies showed a significant change at 3 months and further, gradual, improvement over the following year. During the postoperative period, maximum squeeze pressure reached a normal value of 174.1 ± 19.5 mmHg (P = 0.041) by 6 months and resting pressure was 42.4 ± 5.6 mmHg by 12 months, which was close to the preoperative level (P = 0.038). Conclusion Because of the satisfactory recovery of defaecatory function and good oncological results, partial ISR may be recommended as an effective sphincter‐preserving operation for patients with ultra‐low rectal cancer.     

A technic for restoring intestinal continuity after left hemicolectomy for cancer of the distal colon and rectum.

Retroileal retroperitoneal transplantation of the transverse colon allows additional length for safe colorectostomy after left hemicolectomy in patients with short proximal colonic remnants.     

达芬奇机器人系统辅助左半结肠切除术

目的:探讨达芬奇辅助左半结肠切除术的安全性及可行性.方法:总结2010年5月至11月完成的3例达芬奇辅助左半结肠切除术的方法及术后恢复情况.结果:3例手术均顺利完成,无中转开腹.手术时间150～190min,术中出血量50～80ml.术后无并发症发生.结论:达芬奇系统用于左半结肠癌手术是安全可行的.