Complex rectal polyps: other treatment modalities required when offering a transanal endoscopic microsurgery service.

Purpose: Complex rectal polyps may present a clinical challenge. The study aim was to assess different treatment modalities required in the management of patients referred for transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

Methods: Patients referred with complex rectal polyps from 1998 to 2008 were entered prospectively to a colorectal database.

Laparoscopic resection for low rectal cancer: evaluation of oncological efficacy.

Introduction: Laparoscopic resection of low rectal cancer poses significant technical difficulties for the surgeon. There is a lack of published follow-up data in relation to the surgical, oncological and survival outcomes in these patients.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical, oncological and survival outcomes in all patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for low rectal cancer.

Short-term outcomes following laparoscopic resection for colon cancer.

Background: Laparoscopic resection for colon cancer has been proven to have a similar oncological efficacy compared to open resection. Despite this, it is performed by a minority of colorectal surgeons. The aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term clinical, oncological and survival outcomes in all patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for colon cancer.

The benefit of an enhanced recovery programme following elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy.

Background: Enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) have demonstrated reduced morbidity and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing open elective colorectal resections. The application of laparoscopic techniques to colorectal surgery is associated with shorter length of stay and morbidity compared to open resections. In the setting of laparoscopic surgery, it is unclear whether there is an additive effect on length of stay and morbidity by combining these.

Construct validation of a novel hybrid virtual-reality simulator for training and assessing laparoscopic colectomy; results from the first course for experienced senior laparoscopic surgeons.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine whether the metrics from a left-sided laparoscopic colectomy (LC) simulator could distinguish between the objectively scored performance of minimally invasive colorectal expert and novice surgeons. We report our results from the first virtual reality-based laparoscopic colorectal training course for experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Methods: Eleven surgeons, experienced but novice in LC, constituted the novice group, and three experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons (>300 LCs) served as our experts.

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor in patients with idiopathic combined fecal and urinary incontinence.

The etiologies of combined fecal and urinary incontinence may be interrelated but remain poorly understood. A potential variable in this process is global pelvic floor dysfunction. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the use of phased-array, body coil dynamic MRI in identifying pelvic floor abnormalities in patients with combined incontinence symptoms.

Electromyographic biofeedback can improve subjective and objective measures of fecal incontinence in the short term.

Electromyographic biofeedback therapy has demonstrated subjective improvement in patients with fecal incontinence that is comparable to surgery. We assessed the efficacy of biofeedback therapy in a consecutive heterogeneous group of patients using both subjective and objective assessment criteria. These 28 patients with fecal incontinence were studied retrospectively.