Clinical, physiologic, and anatomic assessments were carried out in 22 female patients with symptomatic rectocele (Group A), 15 patients with asymptomatic rectocele (Group B), and 14 subjects having no rectocele (Group C). Resting and pressure, rectal pressure, rectal compliance, anorectal inhibitory reflex, and rectal sensation did not differ among the groups. Proctography revealed that the lengths of the rectocele during attempted defecation in groups A (1.6 [1.0-3.5] cm) (median and range) and B (1.6 [1.0-3.0] cm) were significantly greater than that in Group C (0.4 [0.1-0.9] cm) (P less than 0.001 in both groups). Median pelvic floor descent at rest in Groups A (4.3 [1.6-7.5] cm) (median and range) and B (4.3 [1.3-6.9] cm) were significantly greater than that in Group C (2.5 [1.2-5.0] cm) (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.02, respectively). These results indicate that rectocele is not associated with any physiologic change apart from a significant increase of pelvic floor descent.
The PCRT regimens in this article enabled selection of 24 of 32 patients for surgery and resulted in encouraging survival results and acceptable toxicities.
By applying a small amplitude modulation to the mean current in a mercury positive column and observing the microwave reflection from the column in the region of resonance, the mercury ionization rate may be determined. The results show better agreement with theory than do probe measurements, probably because, unlike probes, the microwaves do not disturb the ion current flow to the walls. Electron temperatures may be calculated from the ionization rate using the 'free-fall' theory proposed by Langmuir and To& in 1929.
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