Faecal soiling and anal achalasia

Classification and diagnostic criteria of variants of Hirschsprung's disease

"Variants of Hirschsprung's disease" are conditions that clinically resemble Hirschsprung's disease (HD), despite the presence of ganglion cells in rectal suction biopsies. The diagnosis and management of these patients can be challenging. Specific histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic investigations are required to characterize this heterogeneous group of functional bowel disorders. Variants of HD include intestinal neuronal dysplasia, intestinal ganglioneuromatosis, isolated hypoganglionosis, immature ganglia, absence of the argyrophil plexus, internal anal sphincter achalasia and congenital smooth muscle cell disorders such as megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome. This review article systematically classifies variants of HD based on current diagnostic criteria with an additional focus on pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome.

Comparison of posterior internal anal sphincter myectomy and intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection for treatment of internal anal sphincter achalasia: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Internal anal sphincter (IAS) achalasia is a clinical condition with presentation similar to Hirschsprung's disease, but with the presence of ganglion cells on rectal suction biopsy (RSB). The diagnosis is made by anorectal manometry (ARM), which demonstrates the absence of the rectosphincteric reflex on rectal balloon inflation. The recommended treatment of choice is posterior IAS myectomy. Recently, intrasphincteric botulinum toxin (Botox) injection has been effectively used for treatment of IAS achalasia. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of posterior IAS myectomy with intrasphincteric Botox injection for treatment of IAS achalasia.

METHODS

A systematic literature search for relevant articles was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE( ® ), EMBASE(®), ISI Web of Science(SM) and the Cochrane Library. A meta-analysis was performed with the studies where IAS achalasia was diagnosed based on the results of ARM and RSB. Odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULT

Sixteen prospective and retrospective studies, published from 1973 to 2009, were identified. A total of 395 patients with IAS achalasia were included in this meta-analysis. Fifty-eight percent of patients underwent IAS myectomy and 42 % Botox injection. Regular bowel movements were significantly more frequent after IAS myectomy (OR 0.53, [95 % CI 0.29-0.99]; p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in continued use of laxatives or rectal enemas (OR 0.92, [95 % CI 0.34-2.53], p = 0.89) and in overall complication rates between both procedures (OR 0.68, [95 % CI 0.38-1.21]; p = 0.19). Looking at specific complications, the rate of transient faecal incontinence was significantly higher after Botox injection (OR 0.07, [95 % CI 0.01-0.54]; p < 0.01). Constipation and soiling were not significantly different between both procedures (OR 0.66, [95 % CI 0.30-1.48]; p = 0.31 and OR 0.24, [95 % CI 0.03-2.07]; p = 0.25). The rate of non-response was significantly higher after Botox injection (OR 0.52, [95 % CI 0.27-0.99]; p = 0.04). Subsequent surgical treatment was significantly more frequent after Botox injection (OR 0.18, [95 % CI 0.07-0.44]; p < 0.0001). Short- and long-term improvements were significantly more frequent after IAS myectomy (OR 0.56, [95 % CI 0.32-0.97]; p = 0.04 and OR 0.25, [95 % CI 0.15-0.41]; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicates that in patients with IAS achalasia, posterior IAS myectomy appears to be a more effective treatment option compared to intrasphincteric Botox injection. After Botox injection, the rate of transient faecal incontinence, non-response and subsequent surgical procedures were significantly higher compared to IAS myectomy.

Long-term clinical outcome after botulinum toxin injection in children with nonrelaxing internal anal sphincter

OBJECTIVES

Children with surgically repaired Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and those with internal anal sphincter (IAS) achalasia may develop obstructive gastrointestinal symptoms and/or enterocolitis due to a functional obstruction caused by an inability of the IAS to relax. Anal sphincter Clostridium botulinum toxin (BoTox) injections may provide a reversible therapy. However, there is limited information regarding the long-term outcomes of children receiving this therapy. The primary aim of this study was to determine the long-term clinical outcomes of BoTox therapy in children with a nonrelaxing IAS. The secondary aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors predicting a favorable outcome following BoTox IAS injection.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of children with nonrelaxing IAS who received anal sphincter BoTox at a tertiary medical center. Children were classified into one of four long-term clinical outcome groups (excellent, good, fair, poor).

RESULTS

A total of 73 children (30 HD, 43 IAS achalasia) received anal sphincter BoTox injections and had a mean follow-up of 32.1+/-2.9 (s.e.) months. A mean of 2.7+/-0.2 injections were given to each child, with 56 (76.7%) children receiving multiple injections. An initial clinical improvement was seen in 65 of 73 (89%) children after the first injection. A total of 39 (53.4%) children had an excellent or good long-term outcome that was maintained for a mean of 17.1+/-3.1 months from the time of the last BoTox injection. Hospitalization rates significantly decreased in those previously hospitalized before initial BoTox injection. Seven (9.5%) patients developed transient fecal incontinence, and one (1.3%) developed significant pain after an injection. Factors predicting a favorable long-term clinical outcome were initial short-term improvement after the first BoTox injection and having IAS achalasia rather than HD.

CONCLUSIONS

Anal sphincter BoTox may be an effective and safe long-term therapy for children with nonrelaxing IAS.

Ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease: myth or reality

The term ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease has been used to define a spectrum of conditions with clinical presentation similar to Hirschsprung's disease but with presence of ganglion cells on rectal biopsy. In contrast to Hirschsprung's disease, there is no transition zone on barium enema. However, as in classical Hirschsprung's disease, there is no reflex internal sphincter relaxation on rectal manometry. We reviewed the presentation of five patients with chronic constipation who fulfilled the criteria for ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease. After positive anorectal manometry, despite the presence of ganglion cells on suction rectal biopsy, internal sphincter myomectomy was performed in four patients. Resolution of symptoms was noted in all operated patients. Normal ganglion cells were present throughout the entire length of all myomectomy specimens. There is controversy in the literature concerning the diagnosis of ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease. Most of the confusion concerns whether a short segment of aganglionosis proximal to the dentate line is permissible for the diagnosis of ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease and to what extent such aganglionosis is physiological. Perhaps it would be more accurate to define this entity by the presence of ganglion cells on rectal biopsy as well as the failure of the internal sphincter to relax on rectal manometry and to describe it as anorectal achalasia in severely constipated patients.

Physician visits in the United States for constipation: 1958 to 1986

Since 1958, the National Disease and Therapeutic Index (NDTI) has provided annual statistics summarizing the frequency physicians throughout the United States are visited for different disease conditions. In our present study, these data were used to examine the epidemiology of constipation. Since NDTI statistics are available for a longer time period than other U.S. statistics, they might confirm or disprove the relevance of recent environmental changes on the occurrence of this disorder. The average number of physician visits for constipation in the United States was 2.5 million per year, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.2%. The largest number of these patients (31%) was seen by general and family practitioners, followed in declining order by internists (20%) and pediatricians (15%). Only 4% of all these patients was seen by gastroenterologists. Eight-five percent of these patients received a prescription for medication, with laxatives and cathartics being the most frequently prescribed drugs. Among physician visits for constipation, female prevalence was 1.6% compared with 0.8% for males (P less than 0.001). In both sexes, there was a significant age-related increase in the rate of physician visits, with the steepest rise from 1.3% to 4.1% occurring between the age groups 60-64 and over 65. From 1958 to 1986, the rate of all physician visits for constipation remained unchanged. However, during this time period, there was a twofold rise in physician visits for those patients ages 0-9 years, while a smooth decline occurred in all of the older age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gastrointestinal transit time, frequency of defecation, and anorectal manometry in healthy and constipated children

Total gastrointestinal transit time (TGITT), frequency of defecation, and anorectal manometry were evaluated in 63 pediatric patients referred for chronic nonorganic constipation; in 39, segmental transit times of the right and left colon and rectum were also measured. TGITT was significantly longer in chronically constipated children than in matched normal controls. Although bowel frequency was highly significantly correlated with TGITT in patients with prolonged transit time, not all children with prolonged TGITT had reduced bowel frequency. Moreover, not all children with constipation had prolonged TGITT. In children with idiopathic chronic constipation, slowing of intestinal transit occurred most frequently at the level of the distal colon and rectum. Anorectal motility variables were not significantly different in children with functional chronic constipation and in normal children. Maximal resting and pressure and mean intrarectal distending volume causing threshold inhibition in constipated patients did not significantly differ from the control values. Therefore, anorectal manometry did not detect relevant motor abnormalities in constipated children.