Anal fissure

Anal fissure is a common condition with a characteristic presentation. Despite increased pharmaceutical options in the medical management of anal fissures, surgical therapy is not in danger of becoming obsolete. Lateral internal sphincterotomy remains an attractive option for many patients suffering from this painful condition.     

Anal fissure and stenosis

Fissure in ano is a simple condition that causes considerable discomfort. The acute forms should be treated by conservative nonsurgical regimens initially. If the patient finds the symptoms intolerable, or if the fissure demonstrates signs of chronicity, then lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy is recommended as an ideal simple surgical procedure that has the advantages of a low complication rate and low morbidity. It is easily performed under local anesthesia and does not require hospitalization. It is gratifyingly satisfying for both the patient and surgeon. Certain types of anal stenosis, especially those following hemorrhoidectomy, are successfully managed by lateral sphincterotomy combined with postoperative anal dilatation. This approach avoids the more complicated plastic anal procedures that have been used in the past.     

Anal fissure in Crohn's disease

There is little information on the natural history of anal fissure in Crohn's disease. The case notes of all new patients with Crohn's disease attending one hospital between 1977 and 1983 were reviewed: there were 61 patients with this diagnosis and an unhealed anal fissure as the only anal lesion. Of these 61 patients the fissure healed in 42 (69 per cent) during medical treatment of the intestinal disease. Ten patients (16 per cent) developed other anal lesions and in the remaining nine patients the fissure remained unhealed at the time of rectal excision (six) or last out-patient attendance (three). Activity of the fissure did not reflect disease activity elsewhere in 11 cases in whom healing of the fissure occurred despite progressive intestinal disease subsequently requiring resection. This study validates the policy of conservative management of anal fissure in Crohn's disease with anal surgery (required in 9.8 per cent of patients in this series) being reserved for the development of other anal disease.     

Anal pressures in hemorrhoids and anal fissure

Maximal anal pressures have been measured after proctoscopy in 145 patients with hemorrhoids, 48 patients with anal fissure, and 78 asymptomatic control subjects. Anal pressures in patients with hemorrhoids (106 ± 40 cm H₂O) and anal fissure (130 ± 43 cm H₂O) were very significantly higher than those of controls (88 ± 34 cm H₂O) (p < 0.001). Because patients with anal fissure have high anal pressures, these patients should benefit from manual dilatation of the anus or lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy; however, only young male patients with hemorrhoids have anal pressures that are significantly higher than age- and sex-matched controls. Digital assessment and the two finger test are unreliable indicators of high anal pressure. These results indicate that measurement of anal pressure is useful in assessing the suitability of manual dilatation or sphincterotomy in the treatment of hemorrhoids.     

The anocavernosal erectile dysfunction syndrome. II Anal fissure and erectile dysfunction.

A previous study has demonstrated that the bulbocavernosus muscle (BCM) is a part of the external anal sphincter (EAS) [Shafik, Arch Androl, 1999]. It aids erection by compressing the penile bulb and the dorsal penile vein, and acts as a 'suction-ejection' pump in the ejaculatory process. Being a part of the EAS, the BCM is assumed to be involved in the different EAS pathologies. A recent study showed that erectile (ED) and ejaculatory dysfunction in 16 men with fecal incontinence (FI) after an anal fistula operation was cured after sphincteroplasty [Shafik, in press]. This article investigates the erectile and ejaculatory status in patients with anal fissure. The study comprised 32 men with acute anal fissure (mean age 36.7 +/- 8.2 s.d. years), 21 with chronic anal fissure (mean age 38.8 +/- 10.3 s.d. years), and 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 35.2 +/- 7.3 s.d. years). Erectile dysfunction occurred in all men with an acute fissure and in 16 of the chronic fissure patients; erection had been normal before fissure occurrence. The volunteers had normal erection. The anal pain radiated to the penis and was exaggerated on erection and penile thrusting. Erectile dysfunction investigations showed normal results. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the external and internal (IAS) anal sphincters and the BCM as well as anal, penile bulb and cavernosal pressures were recorded. The acute fissures were treated conservatively and chronic ones by internal anal sphincterotomy. The patients were followed for mean periods of 17.3 +/- 3.6 s.d. months. The bulbocavernosus reflex as well as EMG activity of EAS and BCM were normal, while the resting EMG activity of the IAS was increased. The anal pressure in the acute and chronic anal fissure was increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), while the bulbar and cavernosal pressures showed no significant changes. Fissure treatment effected cure of the fissure and the ED in 30/32 of the acute and in 19/21 of the chronic cases. Erectile dysfunction persisted in the four patients in whom the fissures did not heal. In conclusion, a relationship is suggested to exist between anal fissure and ED. The ED occurred in the presence of anal fissure and was normalized with fissure cure. The BCM and anal pain seem to play a role in the etiology of ED associated with anal fissure.     

Therapeutic options in subclavian artery disease.

Chronic ischaemia of the upper limb secondary to subclavian artery disease is uncommon. These patients may present with a variety of symptoms caused by cerebrovascular or upper limb hypoperfusion. If these symptoms are severe, revascularization may be required. This may be accomplished by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or surgery. The experience of the management of these patients has been reviewed to document their presentation, treatment and outcome.     

太宁栓治疗肛裂疼痛的临床观察

目的：探讨肛裂疼痛的治疗效果及安全性。方法：将80例患者分为两组，治疗组采用黏膜保护剂太宁栓，对照组选用马应龙麝香痔疮膏。结果：治疗后太宁栓组疼痛、出血、瘙痒、水肿糜烂的减轻程度明显优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论：太宁栓具有良好的止痛作用，临床效果明显，安全性高。     

Anal fissure: the changing management of a surgical condition

Background Chronic anal fissure is a common benign disorder that causes severe, sharp anal pain during defaecation. Fissures are generally associated with raised resting anal pressures, and treatments are aimed at reduction of these pressures. Surgical sphincterotomy is very successful at healing fissures but is associated with significant morbidity. Much work has gone into the development of new pharmacological agents that can promote healing of chronic anal fissures by production of a reversible chemical sphincterotomy, with the aim of avoiding long-term problems of incontinence.Methods We review these recent innovations that have largely replaced surgery as first line treatment for chronic anal fissure.Conclusions Despite there being initial success with many of these pharmacological agents in the treatment of patients with chronic anal fissures, there are still some concerns about their use. In particular, the occurrence of side effects limits their use, and, unfortunately, they are not always effective at healing fissures. However, despite these drawbacks they remain excellent first-line options in the treatment of chronic anal fissures, and surgery should be offered only to patients who fail these therapies.     

Fournier's gangrene in an HIV-positive patient. Therapeutic options

Fournier's gangrene is a life-threatening necrotising infection of the perineal and genital regions. The case presented here refers to an HIV-positive 42-year-old man, admitted in emergency to our department with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis related to gangrene of the perineum and scrotum. An early wide surgical necrosectomy was performed under epidural anaesthesia. Treatment was completed by intensive care, broad-spectrum antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The wound was managed with advanced dressing (AQUACEL Hydrofiber) until complete healing was obtained, and the scrotum was reconstructed with skin flaps. The disease did not involve the testes, spermatic cord or anorectal canal. The satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcome prompts the authors to stress a number of features of the therapeutic approach adopted: (i) the advantages of epidural anaesthesia with an indwelling catheter that allows further necrosectomy and wound dressing to be performed totally painlessly; (ii) the possibility of avoiding faecal diversion by means of synthetic opioid drugs which are useful to reduce the frequency of defecation; and (iii) the positive impact of advanced dressing on the wound healing process in relation to patient satisfaction and cost management.     

Therapeutic options in gallstone ileus

Gallstone ileus is a rare, serious condition, requiring emergency surgery, specific to elderly age. The present study deals with 16 cases operated in 25 years period, with median age about 64 years old. The patients had clinical evidence of intestinal obstruction, confirmed by radiological examination and ultrasonography. Emergency operations were performed. In 7 cases had been treated radically both the obstruction (entero-lithotomy) and the bilio-digestive fistula (cholecystectomy, duodenal closure, enteral closure, colon-suture) with good results (only one death). In 9 cases, it had been treated only the intestinal obstruction, with only 2 cases of persistent cholangitis. Generally, we have used biliary drainage with Kehr tube in the presence of biliary stones and cholangitis. The biliodigestive fistula may close in evolution or become a harmless secondary route for internal biliary drainage.     

Therapeutic options in IgA nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common form of glomerulonephritis that leads to end-stage renal disease at variable rates in 20% to 30% of cases. A rational approach to therapy requires an understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms that are largely unknown. Several therapeutic approaches have been used, generally in uncontrolled trials, aimed at lowering levels of circulating immune complexes, affecting cellular immunity, or removing antigens through dietary restriction. Thus far, no clear-cut beneficial effects are evident. Alternative means of changing glomerular hemodynamics through prevention of harmful mediators await exploration.     

Therapeutic options for lip augmentation

Aesthetic ideals vary with emerging fashion trends and within different cultures. However, over the past few decades, fuller lips have been considered a desirable trait. Many younger patients are presenting for lip augmentation to achieve the sought-after look commonly seen in many fashion magazines. In addition, as individuals age, they lose lip volume, with a thinning of the red lip, some effacement of the vermillion border, and elongation and flattening of the white portion of the lip. Rejuvenation of the lips plays a key role in restoring a more youthful appearance. As a result, lip augmentation appeals to a wide spectrum of patients who present with various different aesthetic goals and expectations. Numerous therapeutic options exist for aesthetic lip augmentation, ranging from temporary and permanent injectable fillers to implants and other surgical techniques.     

Therapeutic options for haemangiomas of infancy

The necessity of haemangioma treatment in infants has been controversially discussed for years. One reason is the favoured clinical observation of a potential spontaneous involution without any therapeutic approach or medical treatment, thus avoiding their specific risks. On the other hand, there are several reports on serious cases with -rapidly growing haemangiomas including severe consequences. There are potential complications such as loss of visus in cases of periorbital manifestation. A basic problem is the lack of a unique systematic classification, on the basis of which -diagnostic measures, therapeutic indications and modes could be compared. Such a classification would be much more competent including a sufficient comparison of treatment results. The basic aim in management is to achieve control of the haemangioma growth and induction of its sub-sequent involution back to only a cosmetic detraction. Each threatening functional loss can be classified as an urgent indication for treatment. There is a need to consider the treatment options and their values; in particular, cryotherapy or laser therapy in localised manifestations are mostly -favoured because of the convincing evidence from available data. In the case of a more disseminated haemangioma manifestation, the initiation of propranol medication is possible, a novel drug for this indication. However, there are no follow-up data on the mid-term or long-term outcome available at this time. Further studies on the subject are therefore required.