BACKGROUND Although intersphincteric resection can avoid the need for permanent colostomy in patients with lower rectal cancer, it sometimes causes anal sphincter dysfunction, thus resulting in a lifelong, debilitating disorder due to incontinence of solid and liquid stool. The development of regenerative medicine could improve this condition by regenerating impaired anal muscle. In order to pr...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate anal sphincter anatomy using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3-DAUS) in incontinent women with vaginal delivery, correlate anatomical findings with symptoms of fecal incontinence and determine the effect of vaginal delivery on anal canal anatomy and function. METHODS Female with fecal incontinence and vaginal delivery were assessed with Wexner's score, manometry, and...

BACKGROUND Chronic anal fissure is the most common cause of anal pain associated with internal anal sphincter hypertonia. Reduction of hypertonia favours fissure healing. Temporary reduction in sphincter tone can be achieved by conservative treatment. Surgical sphincterotomy achieves permanent reduction of sphincter hypertonia and is very successful at healing anal fissures, but requires an ope...

OBJECTIVE To assess oncologic outcome of patients treated by conservative radical surgery for tumors below 5 cm from the anal verge. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Standard surgical treatment of low rectal cancer below 5 cm from the anal verge is abdominoperineal resection. METHODS From 1990 to 2003, patients with a nonfixed rectal carcinoma at 4.5 cm or less from the anal verge and without extern...

A fine open perfused system and a closed balloon system for the measurement of anal pressure and motility have been compared. Measurements were made in 40 normal subjects and 84 patients with haemorrhoids. The rate of perfusion had a marked effect on the recorded pressure and motility details. The motility pattern was seen most clearly with the balloon probe and the pressure recorded was reprod...

A second family with hereditary proctalgia fugax and internal anal sphincter hypertrophy associated with constipation is described. Anorectal ultrasonography, manometry, and sensory tests were conducted in two symptomatic and one asymptomatic subjects within the same family and further clinical information was obtained from other family members. The inheritance would correspond to an autosomal ...

AIM The aim of treatment of anal fistula is to remove the track avoiding while ensuring faecal continence. We report the results of a technique that preserves the external anal sphincter in patients with complex anal fistulas. METHOD Between 2006 and 2009, 18 patients underwent surgery for a complex anal fistula using this technique. It involved initial identification and partial laying open ...