-
Techniques in Coloproctology Jun 2024Patient selection is extremely important in obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) and rectal prolapse (RP) surgery. This study assessed factors that guided the... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Analysis of factors that indicated surgery in 400 patients submitted to a complete diagnostic workup for obstructed defecation syndrome and rectal prolapse using a supervised machine learning algorithm.
BACKGROUND
Patient selection is extremely important in obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) and rectal prolapse (RP) surgery. This study assessed factors that guided the indications for ODS and RP surgery and their specific role in our decision-making process using a machine learning approach.
METHODS
This is a retrospective analysis of a long-term prospective observational study on female patients reporting symptoms of ODS who underwent a complete diagnostic workup from January 2010 to December 2021 at an academic tertiary referral center. Clinical, defecographic, and other functional tests data were assessed. A supervised machine learning algorithm using a classification tree model was performed and tested.
RESULTS
A total of 400 patients were included. The factors associated with a significantly higher probability of undergoing surgery were follows: as symptoms, perineal splinting, anal or vaginal self-digitations, sensation of external RP, episodes of fecal incontinence and soiling; as physical examination features, evidence of internal and external RP, rectocele, enterocele, or anterior/middle pelvic organs prolapse; as defecographic findings, intra-anal and external RP, rectocele, incomplete rectocele emptying, enterocele, cystocele, and colpo-hysterocele. Surgery was less indicated in patients with dyssynergia, severe anxiety and depression. All these factors were included in a supervised machine learning algorithm. The model showed high accuracy on the test dataset (79%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms assessment and physical examination proved to be fundamental, but other functional tests should also be considered. By adopting a machine learning model in further ODS and RP centers, indications for surgery could be more easily and reliably identified and shared.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Rectal Prolapse; Retrospective Studies; Constipation; Aged; Supervised Machine Learning; Syndrome; Defecation; Adult; Prospective Studies; Defecography; Patient Selection; Algorithms; Clinical Decision-Making
PubMed: 38918256
DOI: 10.1007/s10151-024-02951-1 -
Current Status and Role of Artificial Intelligence in Anorectal Diseases and Pelvic Floor Disorders.JSLS : Journal of the Society of... 2024Anorectal diseases and pelvic floor disorders are prevalent among the general population. Patients may present with overlapping symptoms, delaying diagnosis, and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Anorectal diseases and pelvic floor disorders are prevalent among the general population. Patients may present with overlapping symptoms, delaying diagnosis, and lowering quality of life. Treating physicians encounter numerous challenges attributed to the complex nature of pelvic anatomy, limitations of diagnostic techniques, and lack of available resources. This article is an overview of the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) in tackling the difficulties of managing benign anorectal disorders and pelvic floor disorders.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched the PubMed database to identify all potentially relevant studies published from January 2000 to August 2023. Search queries were built using the following terms: AI, machine learning, deep learning, benign anorectal disease, pelvic floor disorder, fecal incontinence, obstructive defecation, anal fistula, rectal prolapse, and anorectal manometry. Malignant anorectal articles and abstracts were excluded. Data from selected articles were analyzed.
RESULTS
139 articles were found, 15 of which met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common AI module was convolutional neural network. researchers were able to develop AI modules to optimize imaging studies for pelvis, fistula, and abscess anatomy, facilitated anorectal manometry interpretation, and improved high-definition anoscope use. None of the modules were validated in an external cohort.
CONCLUSION
There is potential for AI to enhance the management of pelvic floor and benign anorectal diseases. Ongoing research necessitates the use of multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration between physicians and AI programmers to tackle pressing challenges.
Topics: Humans; Pelvic Floor Disorders; Artificial Intelligence; Rectal Diseases; Anus Diseases; Manometry; Fecal Incontinence
PubMed: 38910957
DOI: 10.4293/JSLS.2024.00007 -
Journal of Comparative Pathology Jun 2024Sulawesi crested macaques (Macaca nigra) (SCMs) are critically endangered and frequently suffer from chronic intestinal disease in captivity. Often, despite routine...
Sulawesi crested macaques (Macaca nigra) (SCMs) are critically endangered and frequently suffer from chronic intestinal disease in captivity. Often, despite routine diagnostic investigations and confirmation of intestinal inflammation, an aetiology cannot be identified, leading to a non-specific categorization as chronic enterocolitis rather than an aetiological diagnosis. This study evaluates the histological features of gastrointestinal tissues from 23 SCMs, comparing animals with a clinical history suggestive of chronic enterocolitis (n = 14) with those without gastrointestinal clinical signs (n = 9). Tissues were graded according to the Nancy index (NI), a scoring system used in human medicine to evaluate disease activity in ulcerative colitis, a common form of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Additionally, inflammatory cells in the colonic lamina propria were visually identified by type, counted and subsequently compared between diseased and control animals. Moderate to severe lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and structural changes were most common in the colons of affected SCMs, whereas histopathological changes were absent or mild in all examined small intestine (n = 17) and stomach (n = 11) tissues. The colonic NI had a significant positive correlation with clinical disease severity and 57% (n = 8) of animals with clinical signs had a NI grade of ≥2, consistent with moderate to severe, active IBD. Half of SCMs with recurrent rectal prolapse (n = 6) had a NI grade of 0, suggesting that intestinal inflammation is not always part of this condition's pathogenesis. The numbers of colonic lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, macrophages and total leucocytes were significantly higher in diseased animals. This study validated the use of the NI in SCMs, enabling a more standardized histopathological evaluation of the colon in this species.
PubMed: 38908093
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.05.002 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Mar 2024Vaginal mesh has been used for years to try to improve the results of pelvic organ prolapse surgery, but current evidence does not confirm this improvement and instead... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS
Vaginal mesh has been used for years to try to improve the results of pelvic organ prolapse surgery, but current evidence does not confirm this improvement and instead describes serious and frequent adverse events.
CLINICAL CASE
64-year-old patient with rectal extrusion of posterior vaginal mesh placed 8 years earlier, and persistent left ischiorectal fistula refractory to surgery. She required 5 surgeries, carried out jointly between gynecology and general surgery, to solve, firstly, the bilateral perianal abscess secondary to extrusion of the posterior vaginal mesh into the rectum and then the persistent left ischiorectal fistula, despite the removal of the material prosthetic. Finally, the fistula was solved by injection of platelet-rich plasma.
CONCLUSIONS
Vaginal mesh complications often need a multidisciplinary approach, and treatment may require multiple approaches and more than one surgical procedure. In the case of a persistent fistula refractory to surgery, after removing the mesh, non-invasive regenerative therapies that promote vascular growth and tissue regeneration could be considered such as platelet-rich plasma.
PubMed: 38878521
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.03.040 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Surgical Mesh; Learning Curve; Mentoring; Rectal Prolapse; Female; Operating Rooms; Telemedicine
PubMed: 38864757
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znae123 -
Gastroenterologia Y Hepatologia Jun 2024Defecation disorders can occur as a consequence of functional or structural anorectal dysfunctions during voiding. The aims of this study is to assess the prevalence of...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Defecation disorders can occur as a consequence of functional or structural anorectal dysfunctions during voiding. The aims of this study is to assess the prevalence of structural (SDD) vs functional (FDD) defecation disorders among patients with clinical complaints of obstructive defecation (OD) and their relationship with patients' expulsive capacity.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Retrospective study of 588 patients with OD studied between 2012-2020 with evacuation defecography (ED), and anorectal manometry (ARM) in a subgroup of 294.
RESULTS
90.3% patients were women, age was 58.5±12.4 years. Most (83.7%) had SDD (43.7% rectocele, 45.3% prolapse, 19.3% enterocele, and 8.5% megarectum), all SDD being more prevalent in women except for megarectum. Functional assessments showed: a) absence of rectification of anorectal angle in 51% of patients and poor pelvic descent in 31.6% at ED; and b) dyssynergic defecation in 89.9%, hypertonic IAS in 44%, and 33.3% rectal hyposensitivity, at ARM. Overall, 46.4% of patients were categorised as pure SDD, 37.3% a combination of SDD+FDD, and 16.3% as having pure FDD. Rectal emptying was impaired in 66.2% of SDD, 71.3% of FDD and in 78% of patients with both (p=0.017).
CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of SDD in middle-aged women with complaints of OD. Incomplete rectal emptying was more prevalent in FDD than in SDD although FDD and SDD frequently coexist. We recommend a stepwise therapeutic approach always starting with therapy directed to improve FDD and relaxation of striated pelvic floor muscles.
PubMed: 38857752
DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2024.502219 -
Techniques in Coloproctology Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Surgical Mesh; Rectal Prolapse; Female; Rectum; Middle Aged; Aged; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38842639
DOI: 10.1007/s10151-024-02946-y -
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum Jun 2024Narrative operative reports may frequently omit or obscure data from an operation.
BACKGROUND
Narrative operative reports may frequently omit or obscure data from an operation.
OBJECTIVE
We aim to develop a synoptic operative report for rectal prolapse that includes core descriptors as developed by an international consensus of expert pelvic floor surgeons.
DESIGN
Descriptors for patients undergoing rectal prolapse surgery were generated through review. Members of the Pelvic Floor Disorders Consortium were recruited to participate in a 3 round Delphi process using a 9-point Likert scale. Descriptors that achieved 70% agreement were kept from the first round, descriptors scoring 40-70% agreement were recirculated in subsequent rounds. A final list of operative descriptors was determined at a consensus meeting, with a final consensus meeting more than 70% agreement.
SETTINGS
This was a survey administered to members of the Pelvic Floor Disorders Consortium.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Descriptors meeting greater than 70% agreement were selected.
RESULTS
One-hundred seventy six surgeons representing colorectal surgeons, urogynecologists, and urologists distributed throughout North America (56%), Latin America (4%), Western Europe (29%), Asia (4%), and Africa (1%) participated in the first round of Delphi voting. After two additional rounds and a final consensus meeting, 16 of 30 descriptors met 70% consensus. Descriptors that met consensus were: surgery type, posterior dissection, ventral dissection, mesh used, type of mesh used, mesh location, sutures used, suture type, pouch of Douglas and peritoneum reclosed, length of rectum imbricated, length of bowel resected, levatoroplasty, simultaneous vaginal procedure, simultaneous gynecologic procedure, simultaneous enterocele repair, and simultaneous urinary incontinence procedure.
LIMITATIONS
Survey represents views of members of the Delphi panel, and may not represent viewpoints of all surgeons.
CONCLUSIONS/DISCUSSION
This Delphi survey establishes international consensus descriptors for intraoperative variables that have been used to produce a synoptic operative report. This will help establish defined operative reporting to improve clinical communication, quality measures, and clinical research. See Video Abstract.
PubMed: 38830262
DOI: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000003364 -
Cureus May 2024Rectal mucosal prolapse is uncommon in children. While most patients present with rectal bleeding and constipation, the occurrence of osseous metaplasia within the...
Rectal mucosal prolapse is uncommon in children. While most patients present with rectal bleeding and constipation, the occurrence of osseous metaplasia within the prolapsed mucosa is extremely rare. Overlapping clinical, gross, and histological features between rectal mucosal prolapse polyps and malignancy pose a challenge for diagnoses. We describe a case of a 16-year-old male who had a rectal mucosal prolapsed polyp with osseous metaplasia. He initially presented due to periumbilical pain with a sore throat and fever. Incidentally, during the workup of his periumbilical pain, he was found to have a soft tissue mass in his rectum on a CT scan, with a biopsy confirming the diagnosis. The case was complicated by the development of sepsis. The patient was treated with empiric antibiotics and was discharged without further complications.
PubMed: 38826948
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59480 -
The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical... Apr 2024Pelvic organ prolapse refers to the descent of pelvic floor organs resulting from the weakening of pelvic muscles, fascia and connective tissue. The overall prevalence...
Pelvic organ prolapse refers to the descent of pelvic floor organs resulting from the weakening of pelvic muscles, fascia and connective tissue. The overall prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse is approximately 41%, including bladder prolapse (25%-34%), uterine prolapse (4%-14%) and rectal prolapse (13%-19%). Various methods are currently employed to repair damaged structures and improve patient symptoms, consequently enhancing their quality of life. This report focuses on a 94-year-old female diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse, specifically Grade 3 bladder prolapse, Grade 3 uterine prolapse and complete rectal prolapse. A comprehensive surgical treatment was carried out to repair the pelvic organs on all three levels (rectum, uterus and bladder) by combining the Delorme procedure with synthetic graft implants. The surgical outcomes were good, illustrating immediate improvement in symptoms without early complications. A multispeciality approach helps functionally repair pelvic organ prolapse while preserving structural integrity.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged, 80 and over; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Surgical Mesh; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; Treatment Outcome; Uterine Prolapse; Rectal Prolapse
PubMed: 38826021
DOI: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_32_24