Laser Doppler assessment of human colonic blood flow

We have used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess human colonic blood flow in patients with healthy mucosa and in those with active proctitis. We report a significant correlation between colonic serosal laser Doppler flux readings and serosal tissue oxygen tension (n = 45: r = 0.671: p = 0.001). Mucosal blood flow was measured using the PF309 probe of a Perimed Pf2b set on 12 kHz frequency shift. There was no significant difference throughout the colon in healthy patients. The flow in rectal mucosa was significantly higher in patients with proctocolitis than in normal mucosa.

Colonic J pouch reconstruction of the radiation-damaged neorectum

BACKGROUND

Postoperative radiotherapy after restorative resection for rectal carcinoma can cause fibrosis, stricture and proctitis. There are few accounts in the literature of the surgical approach to the radiation-damaged neorectum.

METHODS

Reported are four patients who underwent resection of the radiation-damaged neorectum with colonic J pouch reconstruction between September 1996 and July 1997. The operative and postoperative course is described. Parameters of bowel function were assessed by standardized interview 6 months after ileostomy reversal. Ongoing follow up has occurred to the present time.

RESULTS

There was no mortality. Complications were splenic injury requiring splenectomy and a pelvic collection requiring percutaneous drainage. At 6 months after ileostomy reversal all patients had ongoing disturbance of bowel function, and two patients described some degree of incontinence. The mean frequency of bowel actions was four per day. Two patients have subsequently undergone further resection and formation of an end stoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of the radiation-damaged neorectum with colonic J pouch reconstruction is technically feasible. Functional results in the present series were disappointing and half the patients went on to formation of a permanent stoma.

Conditions that mimic inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnostic clues and potential pitfalls

Many of the features that identify idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease are also found with other colorectal conditions that are often encountered by the primary care physician. Although, initially, symptoms of these disorders may appear to be caused by ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, the cause could be bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal infection. Ischemic colitis and radiation colitis are other conditions that are similar in presentation to ulcerative colitis. In most cases, the physician should be able to make a differential diagnosis from a thorough history and physical examination, anoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsy, stool examination, and serology. An occasional patient, in whom diagnosis is not made by these methods, may require a barium enema study, colonoscopy, or referral to a gastroenterologist.

Impaired anal sphincter function in professional cyclists

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to assess anal function in professional mountain bikers, as an increasing number of cycling enthusiasts report functional and morphological problems in the anal region. We tried to find out if constant saddle vibration suffered by professional cyclists could lead to defecation disorders.

METHODS

19 professional male mountain bikers took part in this study. The findings were compared with those of a control group (CG) of healthy volunteers who rode bikes less frequently. Both groups underwent rectal examination and anorectal manometry. Rectal sensation, rectal compliance and the anorectal inhibitory reflex were also assessed. Information on anal pain, blood on the toilet tissue, history of hemorrhoids, anal fissure, abscess formation and problems with defecation was collected by questionnaire and local examination was carried out.

RESULTS

Sphincter resting pressures (89 +/- 27 mmHg vs CG: 69 +/- 16 mmHg), squeeze pressures (137 +/- 36 mmHg vs CG: 96 +/- 19 mmHg) and sphincter volumes (resting vector volume: 513 +/- 277 cc vs CG 273 +/- 170 cc, squeeze vector volume: 1389 +/- 867 cc vs CG: 490 +/- 219 cc) were significantly higher in the professional mountain bikers. Values reflecting rectal sensation (sensory threshold: 51 +/- 32 ml vs CG: 46 +/- 12 ml) were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Proctological problems are very common in professional mountain bikers. Permanent microtrauma through constant saddle vibration may lead to chronic inflammation and anal fissure resulting in anal pain and therefore high sphincter pressure. Muscle hypertrophy as a consequence may lead to defecation disorders.

A review of radiation proctitis in the treatment of prostate cancer

Pelvic radiation is a common therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. A complication of this therapy, radiation proctitis, may be limited to the direct posttreatment period or it may appear as serious complications that occur months to years after therapy has been completed. Mucosal damage, present with both acute and chronic radiation proctitis, produces a variety of symptoms including mucoid diarrhea, pain upon defecation, serious rectal bleeding, stenosis, and fistula formation. The treatment of radiation proctitis is symptom related, and the goals of therapy include the prevention or correction of mucosal changes and eradication of rectal bleeding. This article will review the pathophysiology of radiation proctitis and its treatment.

Colorectal motor and sensitivity features in patients affected by ulcerative proctitis with constipation: a radiological and manometric controlled study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Constipation may be present in ulcerative proctitis (UP), but its pathogenesis has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this article is to investigate functional and morphologic features of the anorectal region in patients with UP and constipation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven patients with quiescent clinical, endoscopic, and histological UP and constipation and 10 patients with functional constipation (FC) underwent radiologic evaluation of intestinal transit time, anorectal manometry, and defecography. Transit time was measured with radiograms at 72 h after ingestion of radiopaque markers. Manometry was carried out using a continuous perfused catheter and a balloon inflated with increasing volumes of air. Defecography was performed after the injection of a barium-sulfate solution in the rectum, with the registration of videotapes during straining, squeezing, and evacuation.

RESULTS

Manometry showed in UP significantly lower values of rectal compliance than those in FC (3.10 and 5 mL/mmHg, respectively) (P = 0.03). Rectal sensitivity threshold was increased but without significant differences in UP and FC (30 and 50 mL air, respectively). At defecography, the median value of rectosacral space was increased in UP in comparison with FC (1.30 vs 0.8; P = 0.002). Lateral rectal diameter in UP was lower than in FC (6 and 8.8 cm, respectively; P = 0.016). Nonsymptomatic rectocele, mucosal prolapse, descending perineum, and abdominopelvic dyssynergy were equally present in UP and FC. The majority of UP patients showed a prolonged intestinal transit time similar to FC patients, and, more frequently, they showed low transit in the left colon in comparison with the right colon in comparison with FC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that constipation in UP may be correlated with rectal fibrosis, which reduces the transit of stools from the left colon. The concomitance of asymptomatic anorectal organic or functional alteration may contribute to worsen constipation.

[Non-gastroduodenal digestive toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents]

Recent data have confirmed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract involving localizations other than the well-known gastroduodenal complications. Perforation and hemorrhage of the small bowel have been reported as well as ulcerations, stenoses and diaphragm disease. The same type of lesions can occur in the large bowel in addition to ischemia and collagen colitis. Diverticular diseases of the colon can be complicated by use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which may also trigger flare-ups of inflammatory diseases. Use in suppository form can complicate rectitis and rectal stenosis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs apparently increase intestinal permeability by inhibiting the cyto-protective effect of prostaglandins. The exact frequency of such complications remains to be determined, but prolonged treatment in elderly subjects appears to increase risk. Current data have not shown greater or lesser toxicity for any specific drug. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be entertained as the cause of intestinal disorders in patients under long-term treatment.

Lymphogranuloma venereum proctitis: An emerging sexually transmitted disease in HIV-positive men in the Netherlands

A recent outbreak of lymphogranuloma venereum (LVG) proctitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 has been detected in HIV-positive men in the Netherlands and Belgium. This sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is well known and frequently occurring in tropical countries, was quite unusual in Europe until 2003. STDs with ulcerative lesions, such as LGV, facilitate transmission of other microorganisms, including HIV and hepatitis C. This in combination with risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected anal sexual intercourse or use of sex toys, increases the risk of blood-blood contact and hence the risk of contracting multiple STDs. Two cases of patients who in a short time period contracted multiple STDs, including LGV proctitis, is presented.

A pathophysiologic study of diversion proctitis

Diversion proctitis occurs with variable frequency after exclusion of the fecal stream. Its importance lies in the inability to differentiate it from other types of proctitis that may result in inappropriate therapy and a reluctance to recommend stoma closure. The effect of fecal diversion (n = 18) and restoration of intestinal continuity (n = 10) on human rectal mucosa in patients without inflammatory intestinal disease has been prospectively evaluated. Fecal diversion was associated with macroscopic inflammation in 55 percent of the patients and histologic inflammation in 72 percent, with a variable incidence of aphthoid ulceration, crypt abscess formation and submucosal nodularity. Restoration of continuity was associated with improvement in histologic features in all patients, but the mucosa returned to normal in only 50 percent of the patients. Onset or resolution of diversion proctitis was not associated with any significant changes in colonic cellular proliferation, glycoprotein synthesis or mucosa-associated or luminal flora. The only diagnostic feature of defunctioned proctitis remains its resolution on reintroducing the fecal stream.

Radiation proctitis. Clinical and pathological manifestations, therapy and prophylaxis of acute and late injurious effects of radiation on the rectal mucosa

BACKGROUND

Often the rectum is the dose-limiting organ in curative radiation therapy of pelvic malignancies. It reacts with serous, mucoid, or more rarely bloody diarrhea.

METHODS

A research for reports on prophylactic and supportive therapies of radiation-induced proctitis was performed (Medline, Cancerlit, and others).

RESULTS

No proven effective prophylactic local or systemic therapies of radiation proctitis exist. Also, no reasonable causal medication is known. In the treatment of late radiation sequelae no clinically tested certain effective therapy exists, too. Antiinflammatory, steroidal or non-steroidal therapeutics as well as sucralfate can be used as topical measures. They will be successful in some patients. Side effects are rare and the therapy is cost-effective. Treatment failures can be treated by hyperbaric oxygen. This will achieve good clinical results in about 50% of the cases. Single or few mucosal telangiectasias with rectal bleeding can be treated sufficiently by endoscopic catheterization.

CONCLUSION

Besides clinical studies acute proctitis should be treated just symptomatically. Radical surgery should be performed only when all conventional treatments have been uneffective, although no certain effective therapies of radiation-induced late proctitis exist.

Significance of gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus infection in homosexual males

Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection usually occurs in immunosuppressed patients and has recently been reported in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Serological evidence of CMV infection and a variety of traumatic and infectious gastrointestinal disorders are known to occur in nonimmunosuppressed homosexual males. However, the significance of gastrointestinal CMV infection in nonimmunosuppressed homosexual males is not well known. Three unusual cases of gastrointestinal CMV infection in homosexual males are presented. Infection of a Kock pouch in one patient and an anal ulcer in another, occurred as part of a CMV mononucleosis syndrome. In the third patient, CMV was found in an acutely inflamed appendix. Although gastrointestinal CMV infection has been reported frequently in patients with AIDS, our patients showed no evidence of immunosuppression or AIDS 6 wk to 1 year later. Gastrointestinal CMV infection in homosexual males with gastrointestinal disease should not be considered indicative of AIDS.

Rectal function following permanent prostate brachytherapy

The purpose of this study was to review the clinical presentation, dosimetry, quality of life assessment, and management of proctitis following permanent prostate brachytherapy. The permanent prostate brachytherapy literature was reviewed using MEDLINE searches to ensure completeness. Rectal complications primarily consist of mild, self-limited proctitis. Rectal bleeding has been correlated with rectal dose. Dose response analysis has demonstrated that the risk of proctitis strongly correlates with the volume of rectal tissue exposed to a given dose. The reported incidence of rectal ulceration/fistula formation is < or = 1%. Constipation significantly increases the radiation dose to the rectum and potentially may contribute to brachytherapy-related morbidity. Quality of life assessments obtained via patient-administered instruments and by physician interview have illustrated that long-term bowel dysfunction is relatively uncommon. Significant bowel dysfunction following prostate brachytherapy is relatively rare, but rectal bleeding has been correlated with radiation dose. Routine post-brachytherapy biopsies of the anterior rectal wall are strongly contraindicated. The continued elucidation of the etiology of bowel dysfunction should result in refinements in implant technique and decreased brachytherapy-related morbidity.

[Clinical picture and therapy of nonspecific ulcerative proctitis (author's transl)]

Nonspecific ulcerative proctitis is a variant of diffuse ulcerative colitis with a markedly different clinical course and prognosis. Therapy of choice today consists in salicylazosulphapyridin enemas. Preparation and application as well as results of treatment are discussed.