Endocoil magnetic resonance imaging quantification of external anal sphincter atrophy.

Background: Anal function depends on the integrity and quality of the sphincter muscles. The diagnosis of external anal sphincter atrophy on endocoil magnetic resonography has been associated with poor outcome from sphincter repair, although the imaging criteria for atrophy remain unclear.

Methods: Women with intact sphincters on endosonography and either normal (more than 60 cm H(2)O) (n = 9) or low (n = 16) squeeze pressures had endocoil magnetic resonography and electromyography.

[Ketamine/flunitrazepam--an alternative intravenous anesthesia].

In a controlled randomized study, 21 patients who received a combination of ketamine and flunitrazepam with relaxation and N2O/O2-ventilation were compared with 20 patients who received neuroleptic analgesia (NLA) for intra-abdominal surgery. The two groups of patients were comparable with respect to age, sex, type of surgery, time of operation and coexistent diseases. The dosage of ketamine chosen was a total of 0.