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Tumori May 2024Improvement in oncological survival for rectal cancer increases attention to anorectal dysfunction. Diagnostic questionnaires can evaluate quality of life but are...
AIM
Improvement in oncological survival for rectal cancer increases attention to anorectal dysfunction. Diagnostic questionnaires can evaluate quality of life but are subjective and dependent on patients' compliance. Anorectal manometry can objectively assess the continence mechanism and identify functional sphincter weakness and rectal compliance. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is presumed to affect anorectal function. We aim to assess anorectal function in rectal cancer patients who undergo total mesorectal excision, with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiation, using anorectal manometry measurements.
METHOD
MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies comparing perioperative anorectal manometry between neoadjuvant chemoradiation and upfront surgery for rectal cancers. Primary outcomes were resting pressure, squeeze pressure, sensory threshold volume and maximal tolerable volume.
RESULTS
Eight studies were included in the systematic review, of which seven were included for metanalysis. 155 patients (45.3%) had neoadjuvant chemoradiation before definitive surgery, and 187 (54.6%) underwent upfront surgery. Most patients were male (238 vs. 118). The standardized mean difference of mean resting pressure, mean and maximum squeeze pressure, maximum resting pressure, sensory threshold volume, and maximal tolerable volume favored the upfront surgery group but without statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
Currently available evidence on anorectal manometry protocols failed to show any statistically significant differences in functional outcomes between neoadjuvant chemoradiation and upfront surgery. Further large-scale prospective studies with standardized neoadjuvant chemoradiation and anorectal manometry protocols are needed to validate these findings.
PubMed: 38819198
DOI: 10.1177/03008916241256544 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases May 2024Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common complication of esophageal cancer surgery that can affect quality of life and increase the risk of esophageal...
BACKGROUND
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common complication of esophageal cancer surgery that can affect quality of life and increase the risk of esophageal stricture and anastomotic leakage. Wendan Decoction (WDD) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula used to treat various gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Mosapride, a prokinetic agent, functions as a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 agonist, enhancing gastrointestinal motility.
AIM
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of WDD combined with mosapride on GERD after esophageal cancer surgery.
METHODS
Eighty patients with GERD were randomly divided into treatment (receiving WDD combined with mosapride) and control (receiving mosapride alone) groups. The treatment was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023. The primary outcome was improved GERD symptoms as measured using the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ). The secondary outcomes were improved esophageal motility (measured using esophageal manometry), gastric emptying (measured using gastric scintigraphy), and quality of life [measured the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey].
RESULTS
The treatment group showed a notably reduced RDQ score and improved esophageal motility parameters, such as lower esophageal sphincter pressure, peristaltic amplitude, and peristaltic velocity compared to the control group. The treatment group showed significantly higher gastric emptying rates and SF-36 scores (in both physical and mental domains) compared to the control group. No serious adverse effects were observed in either group.
CONCLUSION
WDD combined with mosapride is an effective and safe therapy for GERD after esophageal cancer surgery. It can improve GERD symptoms, esophageal motility, gastric emptying, and the quality of life of patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.
PubMed: 38808341
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i13.2194 -
The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology... May 2024Patients with chronic constipation (CC) usually complain of mild to severe symptoms, including hard or lumpy stools, straining, a sense of incomplete evacuation after a... (Review)
Review
Patients with chronic constipation (CC) usually complain of mild to severe symptoms, including hard or lumpy stools, straining, a sense of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement, a feeling of anorectal blockage, the need for digital maneuver to assist defecation, or reduced stool frequency. In clinical practice, healthcare providers need to check for 'alarm features' indicative of a colonic malignancy, such as bloody stools, anemia, unexplained weight loss, or new-onset symptoms after 50 years of age. In the Seoul Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation, the Bristol stool form scale, colonoscopy, and digital rectal examination are useful for objectively evaluating the symptoms and making a differential diagnosis of the secondary cause of constipation. If patients with CC improve to lifestyle modification or first-line therapies, the effort to determine the subtypes of CC is usually not considered. On the other hand, if conventional therapeutic strategies fail, diagnostic testing needs to be considered to distinguish between the different subtypes of functional constipation (normal-transit constipation, slow transit constipation, or defecatory disorder) because these subtypes of constipation have different therapeutic implications and a correct diagnosis is critical. In the Seoul consensus, physiological testing is recommended for patients with functional constipation who have failed to respond to treatment with available laxatives (for a minimum of 12 weeks and recommended a therapeutic regimen) or who are strongly suspected of having a defecatory disorder. The Seoul consensus contains statements of physiological testing, including balloon expulsion test, anorectal manometry, defecography, and colon transit time.
Topics: Constipation; Humans; Chronic Disease; Manometry; Colonoscopy; Digital Rectal Examination; Defecography; Gastrointestinal Transit
PubMed: 38783618
DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2024.039 -
Annals of Gastroenterology 2024While surgical failure rates for fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair are low, there has been no clear evaluation of the preoperative risk factors associated with...
BACKGROUND
While surgical failure rates for fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair are low, there has been no clear evaluation of the preoperative risk factors associated with surgical failure. This study aimed to identify risk factors predisposing patients to surgical failure.
METHODS
Patients who underwent antireflux surgery during a 3-year period were evaluated for evidence of surgical complications and placed accordingly into the failure or control group. Demographic data, comorbidities, clinical presentation, preoperative evaluation, and surgical data were collected and compared between the groups.
RESULTS
In total, 86 patients with failure and 42 controls were identified among our cohort. No significant differences were found between groups based on sex (P=0.640). However, patients with failure were younger than controls (57.0 vs. 64.7 years, P=0.0001). Body mass index, tobacco use and alcohol use did not differ significantly between the groups (P=0.189, P=0.0999, P=0.060). Notably, psychiatric illness was more common in the failure group (P=0.0086). Neither hypertension (P=0.134) nor diabetes (P=0.335) had significant differences between groups. For procedures, no significant differences were found for the frequencies of preoperative imaging (P=0.395) or manometry (P=0.374), but pH/BRAVO studies (P=0.0193) and endoscopy (P<0.001) were both performed more frequently in the failure group.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with psychiatric comorbidities are at higher risk of surgical failure. Alcohol use trended toward significance, which warrants further investigation. We also noted an increase in rates of preoperative pH and endoscopy studies, contrary to the prior literature; this is likely due to more complex cases requiring additional workup.
PubMed: 38779646
DOI: 10.20524/aog.2024.0874 -
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades... May 202445 year-old male patient with history of heartburn and regurgitation of non-acid food in the immediate postprandial period, with no symptomatic improvement after...
45 year-old male patient with history of heartburn and regurgitation of non-acid food in the immediate postprandial period, with no symptomatic improvement after anti-acid treatment. The patient underwent an upper endoscopy that was unremarkable. A high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) was performed according to Chicago Protocol 4.0, as well as an additional solid test meal, with findings of rumination syndrome (RS) (figure 1). The study was completed with a 24-hour impedance pH monitoring that showed, in the immediate postprandial period, episodes of reflux that reached the proximal sensor followed by a normal swallow (figure 2). Abdominophrenic biofeedback was started with clinical improvement and anti-acid treatment was maintained at once a day. Discussion: RS is diagnosed by a complete clinical history, using the Rome IV or DSM-5 criteria (figure 3). Due to lack of knowledge of the disease and the fact that regurgitation can be present in other conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease and achalasia, most patients undergo multiple tests and visit several physicians before reaching the diagnosis1. The gold standard investigation for RS, in cases where there are diagnostic doubts, is HRIM with solid meal administration, that shows a sudden increase in intragastric pressure > 30 mmHg concurrent with a drop in impedance and both simultaneous lower and upper esophageal sphincter relaxation, that may or may not be followed by re-swallowing food2. Rumination episodes can appear spontaneously (type 1) or may be preceded by a reflux episode (type 2) or a supragastric belch (type 3)3. 24-hour impedance pH monitoring cannot confirm de diagnosis, but during rumination, in the majority of episodes, the refluxed material reaches the proximal esophagus2.
PubMed: 38775393
DOI: 10.17235/reed.2024.10413/2024 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... May 2024BACKGROUND The concept of driving pressure (ΔP) has been established to optimize mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury. However, little is known about the specific... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Individualized PEEP Guided by Driving Pressure on Diaphragm Function in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Radical Resection of Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
BACKGROUND The concept of driving pressure (ΔP) has been established to optimize mechanical ventilation-induced lung injury. However, little is known about the specific effects of setting individualized positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with driving pressure guidance on patient diaphragm function. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety patients were randomized into 3 groups, with PEEP set to 0 in group C; 5 cmH₂O in group F; and individualized PEEP in group I, based on esophageal manometry. Diaphragm ultrasound was performed in the supine position at 6 consecutive time points from T0-T5: diaphragm excursion, end-expiratory diaphragm thickness (Tdi-ee), and diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) were measured. Primary indicators included diaphragm excursion, Tdi-ee, and DTF at T0-T5, and the correlation between postoperative DTF and ΔP. Secondary indicators included respiratory mechanics, hemodynamic changes at intraoperative d0-d4 time points, and postoperative clinical pulmonary infection scores. RESULTS (1) Diaphragm function parameters reached the lowest point at T1 in all groups (P<0.001). (2) Compared with group C, diaphragm excursion decreased, Tdi-ee increased, and DTF was lower in groups I and F at T1-T5, with significant differences (P<0.05), but the differences between groups I and F were not significant (P>0.05). (3) DTF was significantly and positively correlated with mean intraoperative ΔP in each group at T3, and the correlation was stronger at higher levels of ΔP. CONCLUSIONS Individualized PEEP, achieved by esophageal manometry, minimizes diaphragmatic injury caused by mechanical ventilation based on lung protection, but its protection of the diaphragm during laparoscopic surgery is not superior to that of conventional ventilation strategies.
Topics: Humans; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Diaphragm; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Laparoscopy; Aged; Colorectal Neoplasms; Respiratory Mechanics; Adult; Pressure; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 38768093
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944022 -
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades... May 2024Retrograde upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction (R-UESD) is characterized by the inability to belch. Evidence of using high-resolution manometry (HRM) in diagnosing...
Retrograde upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction (R-UESD) is characterized by the inability to belch. Evidence of using high-resolution manometry (HRM) in diagnosing R-UESD has emerged in recent years. We describe the clinical picture and HRM patterns of two patients with R-UESD. Case 1: A 23-year-old female presented with a two-year complaint of inability to belch. We performed HRM with a belch provocation test for which the patient drank 500 ml of carbonated water. The study revealed increased esophageal pressure, an absence of UES relaxation and secondary peristalsis once the patient mentioned the need to belch. Case 2: A 21-year-old male presented to our medical office with a history of an incapacity to belch during the last three years. We performed HRM with a belch provocation test. During the study, he reported an incapacity to belch and his symptoms coincided with increased esophageal pressure, an absence of UES relaxation, and secondary peristalsis. Retrograde upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction is a rare condition characterized by a lack of UES relaxation during esophageal distension. The incapacity to belch is the hallmark of the disease. We encourage the use of HRM, looking for an increase in esophageal pressure to the level of gastric pressure, failure of UES relaxation with consequently no venting of air across the UES, and secondary peristalsis. In conclusion, diverse R-UESD clinical presentations represent a diagnostic challenge for physicians. This case series highlights the need to actively search for typical HRM findings when encountering patients referring an incapacity to belch.
PubMed: 38767031
DOI: 10.17235/reed.2024.10478/2024 -
Surgical Case Reports May 2024The rectal and vaginal walls are typically sutured if severe perineal lacerations with rectal mucosal damage occur during vaginal delivery. In case of anal incontinence...
BACKGROUND
The rectal and vaginal walls are typically sutured if severe perineal lacerations with rectal mucosal damage occur during vaginal delivery. In case of anal incontinence after the repair, re-suturing of the anal sphincter muscle is standard procedure. However, this procedure may not result in sufficient improvement of function.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 41-year-old woman underwent suture repair of the vaginal and rectal walls for fourth-degree perineal laceration at delivery. She was referred to our department after complaining of flatus and fecal incontinence. Her Wexner score was 15 points. Examination revealed decreased anal tonus and weak contractions on the ventral side. We diagnosed anal incontinence due to sphincter dysfunction after repair of a perineal laceration at delivery. We subsequently performed sphincter re-suturing with perineoplasty to restructure the perineal body by suturing the fascia located lateral to the perineal body and running in a ventral-dorsal direction, which filled the space between the anus and vagina and increased anal tonus. One month after surgery, the symptoms of anal incontinence disappeared (the Wexner score lowered to 0 points), and the anorectal manometry values increased compared to the preoperative values. According to recent reports on the anatomy of the female perineal region, bulbospongiosus muscle in women does not move toward the midline to attach to the perineal body, as has been previously believed. Instead, it attaches to the ipsilateral surface of the external anal sphincter. We consider the fascia lateral to the perineal body to be the fascia of the bulbospongiosus muscle.
CONCLUSIONS
In a case of postpartum anal incontinence due to sphincter dysfunction after repair of severe perineal laceration, perineoplasty with re-suturing an anal sphincter muscle resulted in improvement in anal sphincter function. Compared to conventional simple suture repair of the rectal wall only, this surgical technique may improve sphincter function to a greater degree.
PubMed: 38724859
DOI: 10.1186/s40792-024-01917-7 -
International Journal of General... 2024Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by autoimmunity, fibrosis, and vasculopathy that affects the skin and internal organs,...
PURPOSE
Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by autoimmunity, fibrosis, and vasculopathy that affects the skin and internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the esophagus. This article highlights the characteristics and clinical symptoms of esophageal involvement in patients with SSc.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This study was conducted between November 2022 to August 2023, including 26 already diagnosed cases of SSc in the Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Kurdistan Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Esophageal involvement was investigated using esophageal manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring.
RESULTS
Females were significantly predominant ( = 0.019) regarding the symptoms; 76.9% of the patients had heart burn, 76.9% dysphagia, 73.1% water brush, and 69.2% regurgitation. In total, 69.2% of the patients showed erosive gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) on EGD, 76.9% had decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (DLESP) and decreased distal esophageal peristaltic contractions (DDEPC) on esophageal manometry, and 84.6% had reflux on pH monitoring. Raynaud's phenomenon is the most common and typically the earliest clinical manifestation of SSc. The presence of erosive GERD was found to significantly increase the risk of developing dysphagia (B = 4.725, = 0.014, OR = 3.482) and regurgitation (B = 3.521, = 0.006, OR = 4.030).
CONCLUSION
It is crucial to take gender-specific considerations into account when diagnosing and managing esophageal complications in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Additionally, employing various diagnostic assessments to detect esophageal involvement during SSc is essential. Erosive GERD has been identified as a risk factor that contributes to the development of dysphagia and regurgitation in individuals with SSc.
PubMed: 38711827
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S448421 -
Surgical Case Reports May 2024Esophageal diverticulum is commonly associated with esophageal motility disorders, which can be diagnosed using high-resolution manometry (HRM) according to the Chicago...
BACKGROUND
Esophageal diverticulum is commonly associated with esophageal motility disorders, which can be diagnosed using high-resolution manometry (HRM) according to the Chicago classification. Although midesophageal diverticulum (M-ED) is associated with inflammatory processes, esophageal motility disorders have been recently identified as an etiology of M-ED.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present the case of a patient with M-ED and elevated intrabolus pressure (IBP), which did not meet the criteria for esophageal motility disorders according to the Chicago classification. A 71-year-old man presented with gradually worsening dysphagia for two years and was diagnosed as having an 8-cm-long M-ED and multiple small diverticula in lower esophagus. HRM revealed a median integrated relaxation pressure of 14.6 mmHg, a distal latency of 6.4 s, and an average maximum IBP of 35.7 mmHg. He underwent thoracoscopic resection of the M-ED and myotomy, which successfully alleviated the symptoms and reduced the intrabolus pressure to normal levels.
CONCLUSIONS
It is important to recognize the esophageal diverticulum pathology with HRM findings even in cases where the results may not meet the Chicago classification and to include myotomy based on the results.
PubMed: 38700566
DOI: 10.1186/s40792-024-01909-7