Pubovisceral muscle and anal sphincter defects in women with fecal or urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery.

Background: Vaginal delivery is the most frequent cause of direct anal sphincter trauma as well as pelvic floor muscle defects in women with corresponding signs and symptoms. The aim of the present study was to identify anatomical and functional abnormalities of the anal canal and pelvic floor in women who had had a vaginal delivery and determine the relationship between such abnormalities and the symptoms and severity of fecal incontinence (FI).

Methods: Consecutive female patients with symptoms of fecal and/or urinary incontinence were recruited through the colorectal and gynecological outpatient clinics at two large university hospitals and were eligible if they had had at a vaginal delivery.

Dynamic translabial ultrasound versus echodefecography combined with the endovaginal approach to assess pelvic floor dysfunctions: How effective are these techniques?

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of dynamic translabial ultrasound (TLUS) in the assessment of pelvic floor dysfunction and compare the results with echodefecography (EDF) combined with the endovaginal approach.

Methods: Consecutive female patients with pelvic floor dysfunction were eligible. Each patient was assessed with EDF combined with the endovaginal approach and TLUS.

Usefulness of anorectal and endovaginal 3D ultrasound in the evaluation of sphincter and pubovisceral muscle defects using a new scoring system in women with fecal incontinence after vaginal delivery.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate pubovisceral muscle and anal sphincter defects in women with previous vaginal delivery and fecal incontinence and to correlate the findings with the severity of symptoms using the combined anorectal and endovaginal 3D ultrasonography with a new ultrasound scoring system.

Methods: Consecutive female patients with previous vaginal delivery and fecal incontinence symptoms were screened. Fecal incontinence was assessed with the Cleveland Clinic Florida fecal incontinence scale, and the extent of defects was assessed by an ultrasound score based on results of anorectal and endovaginal 3D ultrasound.

How much of the internal sphincter may be divided during lateral sphincterotomy for chronic anal fissure in women? Morphologic and functional evaluation after sphincterotomy.

Background: Sphincterotomy is used to treat chronic anal fissure, but the length of the sphincterotomy is associated with incontinence.

Objective: We used 3-dimensional anal ultrasonography to determine the proportion of the internal anal sphincter that may be divided during lateral internal sphincterotomy in women without predisposing them to a high risk of fecal incontinence.

Design And Setting: This was a prospective, observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary-care hospital.

Management of patients with rectocele, multiple pelvic floor dysfunctions and obstructed defecation syndrome.

Context: Management of patients with obstructed defecation syndrome is still controversial.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of clinical, clinical treatment followed by biofeedback, and surgical treatment in patients with obstructed defecation, rectocele and multiple dysfunctions evaluated with echodefecography.

Methods: The study included 103 females aged 26-84 years with obstructed defecation, grade-II/III rectocele and multiple dysfunctions on echodefecography.

The influence of age on posterior pelvic floor dysfunction in women with obstructed defecation syndrome.

Background: Knowledge of risk factors is particularly useful to prevent or manage pelvic floor dysfunction but although a number of such factors have been proposed, results remain inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of aging on the incidence of posterior pelvic floor disorders in women with obstructed defecation syndrome evaluated using echodefecography.

Methods: A total of 334 patients with obstructed defecation were evaluated using echodefecography in order to quantify posterior pelvic floor dysfunction (rectocele, intussusception, mucosal prolapse, paradoxical contraction or non-relaxation of the puborectalis muscle, and grade III enterocele/sigmoidocele).

Effect of vaginal delivery and ageing on the anatomy of the female anal canal assessed by three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound.

Aim: The effect of vaginal delivery and ageing on the anatomy of the anal canal was assessed using three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound to determine the interobserver reliability.

Method: One-hundred and eighteen asymptomatic women without sphincter damage were grouped according to parity and mode of delivery. They were then stratified by age (≤50 years vs >50 years).

A novel three-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography technique for the assessment of perineal descent, compared with defaecography.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to describe a novel three-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography technique (dynamic 3-DAUS) for assessment of perineal descent (PD) and establishment of normal range values, comparing it with defaecography. Secondarily, the study compares the ability of the two techniques to identify various pelvic floor dysfunctions.

Method: A prospective study was undertaken in 29 women (mean age 43 years) with obstructed defecation disorder.

Anatomic characteristics of anal fistula on three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography.

Background: Surgery for anal fistula is often associated with continence disorders due to the transection of sphincter muscles. Extensive knowledge of anal canal anatomy and anal fistula can help prevent this outcome.

Objective: This study aimed to correlate the anatomical conformation of the anal canal, the fistula track, and the internal opening according to sex and hemicircumference (anterior vs posterior) by use of 3-dimensional ultrasonography.

Is dynamic two-dimensional anal ultrasonography useful in the assessment of anismus? A comparison with manometry.

Context: Anismus is a prevalent functional cause of outlet delay. It is characterized by symptoms of obstructed defecation associated with paradoxical contraction of the pelvic floor muscles.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of two dimensional anal ultrasonography to identify anismus patients with paradoxical contraction or normal relaxation, comparing findings with manometric measurements.

Criteria for three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound assessment of response to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify criteria for three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography (3D-AUS) to assess the response of rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy; the 3D-AUS results were compared with the histopathological findings of the resected specimen.

Method: Thirty-five patients underwent 3D-AUS and were grouped according to the presence (GI; n = 19) or absence (GII; n = 16) of anal canal invasion. All patients received chemoradiotherapy, then underwent a second 3D-AUS.

The role of 3-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in the assessment of anterior transsphincteric fistula.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of 3-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in the choice of surgical technique according to the position of the fistulous tract in patients with anterior transsphincteric anal fistula.

Methods: A total of 33 patients (18 male) with anterior transsphincteric fistulas were evaluated by ultrasonography. The length of the external and internal anal sphincters, the position of the internal opening, the length of the compromised sphincter, and the percentage of sphincter muscle to be transected during surgery were measured, compared between sexes, and used in planning the surgery.

A novel two-dimensional dynamic anal ultrasonography technique to assess anismus comparing with three-dimensional echodefecography.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to test two-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography (2D-DAUS) in the assessment of anismus and compare it with echodefecography (ECD).

Method: Fifty consecutive female patients with outlet delay were submitted to 2D and 3D-DAUS, measuring the relaxing or contracting puborectalis muscle angle during straining. The patients were assigned to one of two groups based on ECD findings.

Types of pelvic floor dysfunctions in nulliparous, vaginal delivery, and cesarean section female patients with obstructed defecation syndrome identified by echodefecography.

Purpose: This study aims to show pelvic floor dysfunctions in women with obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), comparing nulliparous to those with vaginal delivery or cesarean section using the echodefecography (ECD).

Materials And Methods: Three hundred seventy female patients with ODS were reviewed retrospectively and were divided in Group I-105 nulliparous, Group II-165 had at least one vaginal delivery, and Group III-comprised of 100 patients delivered only by cesarean section. All patients had been submitted to ECD to identify pelvic floor dysfunctions.

Role of three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in the assessment of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy: preliminary results.

Background: Three-dimensional anorectal ultrasound (3-DAUS) scanning provides accurate information on tumor size and its relation to the anal muscles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of 3-DAUS to assess response to radiochemotherapy (RCT) for rectal cancer by comparing 3-DAUS images to pathological findings.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (mean age 52.

A novel three-dimensional dynamic anorectal ultrasonography technique (echodefecography) to assess obstructed defecation, a comparison with defecography.

Aim: To test the effectiveness of echodefecography, the dynamic 3D anorectal ultrasonography technique -(EDF). To assess women with obstructed defecation (OD), as compared with conventional defecography (DF).

Methods: A prospective study was carried out with 30 women with OD symptoms, the mean validated Wexner constipation score was 14 (range 7-25) and the mean age 47.

A novel procedure to assess anismus using three-dimensional dynamic anal ultrasonography.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the value of three-dimensional (3D) dynamic endosonography in the assessment of anismus.

Method: Sixty-one women submitted to anorectal manometry were enrolled including 40 healthy women and 21 patients with anismus diagnosed by manometry. Patients were submitted to 3D endosonography.

Effect of soluble fiber or fructooligosaccharide supplementation upon trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid induced colitis in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of soluble fiber or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation upon trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats.

Methods: 64 Wistar rats were given water, soluble fiber or FOS intragastrically during 14 days prior to colitis induction with TNBS (n=48) or rectal enema with water (n=16; control group). On the 7th or 14th day following colitis induction the rats were weighed and euthanized in order to determine the colon weight/length ratio and macroscopic and microscopic scores.