The aim was to study the dynamics of ankle-brachial index (ABI) after treadmill test, after six-minute walk test (SWT) and after electric muscle stimulation (EMS) in aged patients. We conducted a survey of 80 aged patients (73,0 +/- 16,0 years). ABI was determined at rest and immediately after the following tests: 1) treadmill-test for five minutes, 2) SWT, and 3) EMS for five minutes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chronic idiopathic anal pain is a common, benign symptom, the etiology of which remains unclear. Traditional treatments are often ineffective. This study investigated the efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation in treating chronic idiopathic anal pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Sacral nerve stimulation is a safe and effective procedure for fecal incontinence. We investigated whether its efficacy is maintained long term.
Patients And Methods: Sixty patients with fecal incontinence underwent permanent sacral nerve stimulation.
We report a brief discussion on a clinical case of a female patient, 85 years old, affected by severe cognitive impairment and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patient was not taking drugs at home (apart from promazine: 10 drops when necessary to control her behavioral diseases). A previous neuropsychological evaluation had shown a severe cognitive impairment MMSE=16/30; ADL=3/6; IADL=0/8) due to multiple brain ischemic areas (confirmed in 2003 by MRI neuroimaging).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study was designed to evaluate possible social and geographic factors that could have an impact on quality of life in patients after abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Although the number of patients with rectal cancer who need to be treated with abdominoperineal excision of the rectum and construction of permanent colostomy has greatly decreased in the past, there is still controversy about the influence on quality of life caused by this procedure.
Methods: In a prospective trial, patients operated on for low rectal cancer by abdominoperineal excision of the rectum were evaluated by a quality of life questionnaire, modified from The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons questionnaire, to assess fecal incontinence.