No abstract

One hundred women who had undergone proctocolectomy with a continence-preserving procedure (50 Kock pouches, 50 ileoanal anastomoses) for ulcerative colitis or polyposis coli were interviewed regarding their preoperative and postoperative sexual function. Frequency of intercourse increased and the incidence of dyspareunia decreased after operation in both groups. Patients who had a Kock pouch had a greater incidence of persistent postoperative dyspareunia than patients who underwent an ileoanal procedure (38% vs. 18%, p less than 0.02). Only one patient in each group reported a postoperative disturbance in ability to achieve orgasm. Most women reported no change in their menstrual cycle, but patients with a Kock pouch had more episodic vaginal discharge than patients with an ileoanal anastomosis (18% vs. 0%, p less than 0.001). Postoperative fertility was minimally impaired. Overall, the majority of women in this study who underwent proctocolectomy for benign diseases experienced enhanced sexual function after operation, which they attributed mainly to improved health.

The records of 54 patients with documented cirrhosis who underwent colectomy between January 1970 and January 1984 were studied to assess the operative risk and to determine the preoperative predictive risk factors. In-hospital mortality was 24 percent (13 patients), and postoperative complications occurred in 48 percent (26 patients). The risk of surgical intervention was significantly increased if encephalopathy, ascites, anemia, or hypoalbuminemia was present before operation. A simple operative risk index involving the presence of encephalopathy and ascites and the levels of hemoglobin and albumin is proposed to help distinguish a low-risk subgroup in whom postoperative mortality was 12.8 percent from a high-risk subgroup in whom postoperative mortality was 53.3 percent.

No abstract

We stress the need for lifelong proctoscopic surveillance in patients with familial polyposis coli treated by proctocolectomy with ileoanal anastomosis.

To assess the efficacy of misoprostol in the treatment of patients with severe chronic constipation, nine such patients were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study of misoprostol (1200 micrograms/day) or placebo, that lasted three weeks. During this period each patient received the drug for one week and placebo for another with a week washout period in between. A colonic transit study, using radiopaque markers, was performed during each of the treatment weeks, while the number of stools and their total weight was recorded by each patient for the appropriate periods. Colonic transit time was significantly and consistently decreased by misoprostol compared to placebo [66 hr +/- 10.2 vs 109.4 hr +/- 8.1 (P = 0.0005)]. Misoprostol significantly increased the total stool weight per week [976.5 g +/- 288.8 vs 434.6 g +/- 190.5 (P = 0.001)] and also significantly increased the number of stools per week compared to placebo [6.5 +/- 1.3 vs 2.5 +/- 0.11 (P = 0.01)]. The incidence of abdominal pain was similar in both groups. We concluded that misoprostol, during a short trial period, proved effective in increasing the frequency and weight of bowel movements and decreasing colonic transit time in patients with severe chronic constipation. It may be used as a therapeutic measure to treat such patients.

No abstract

We report a case of incarcerated rectal prolapse that could not be reduced after using the previously described application of ordinary table sugar. Gentle pressure caused the prolapsed rectum to perforate, and the small bowel herniated through the tear. This is only the second case reported in the literature of an ileal herniation through a perforated rectum after an attempted reduction of an incarcerated prolapse. It is the only reported case occurring after sugar application and the 42nd case of ileal herniation through the rectum from all causes.