Assessment of normal anal sphincter anatomy using transanal ultrasonography in healthy Korean volunteers: a retrospective observational study.

Backgruound: To date, there have been no studies on the normal anatomic values of the anal sphincter in healthy Koreans. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the normal anatomic values of transanal ultrasonography (TAUS).

Methods: The thickness of the external anal sphincter (EAS) and internal anal sphincter (IAS) was measured by TAUS from healthy Korean volunteers between September 2019 and August 2021.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with depressive mood in Korean patients with fecal incontinence.

Purpose: The study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of depression in individuals with fecal incontinence (FI) and the relationship between the symptoms of depression and the severity of objective test parameters.

Methods: Patients with FI for over 3 months were included in the study. The exclusion criteria were (1) diagnosis or treatment of the pelvic organ prolapse syndrome, (2) previous anorectal surgery, (3) inflammatory bowel disease, (4) previous diagnosis of psychiatric disorder, and (5) inability to read or understand the questionnaire themselves.