Rectovagianl fistula(RVF) is a congenital or acquired communication between the two epithelial-lined surface of the rectum and the vagina. We present our experience with 62 patients with RVF. There were various etiologies and repair methods of rectovaginal fistula. The purpose of this study was to retospectively review the clinical course of the patients we treated and to evaluate the efficacy of various treatment options. The mean age was 40.5 yr, The type of RVF was classified to one of two(simple and complex), according to their location, size and etiology. RVF was developed most commonly after radiotherapy due to cervical cancer(n=17), then after pelvic surgery due to malignancy(n=16), obstetric trauma after episiotomy at delivery(n=7), congenital malformation(n=4), inflammatory bowel disease(n=1), Bechet's disease(n=1), infections such as perianal fistula or abscess(n=2), direct invasion of carcinoma(n=3), after chemotherapy(n=1), and idiopathic(n=6). Three cases of them associated with rectovesicovaginal fistula. Surgical therapeutic option was divided to local repair, abdominal approach and tissue transposition by the type of RVF. Most simple RVFs were repaired with local approach through the vagina or rectum. Most complex RVFs were repaired through abdominal approach or tissue transposition. With an average follow up of 20 months, the treatment results were as follows: completely healed(n=36, 58.1%), persistent symptom(n=6, 9.7%), recurrence after repair(n=5, 8.1%), loss of search or death(n=15, 24.1%). Therefore we assist that the management of RVF depends on size, location, and cause. anal sphincter function and overall health status of the patient. Careful preoperative assessment of the fistula, surrounding tissues, and anal sphincter and exclusion of associated disease are essential. With through evaluation, thoughtful consideration of treatment options, and meticulous operative technique, patient can be assured of an optimal outcome.
Anal Canal ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Rectovaginal Fistula* ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Vagina

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of subtotal colectomy on patients with a diagnosis of chronic constipation. METHODS: A retrospective review of 11 consecutive patients who underwent subtotal colectomy between January 1990 and July 1999 was undertaken. Preoperative testings included complete history and physical examination, anorectal manometry, videodefecography, and colonic transit studies. RESULTS: The 11 patients consisted of 5 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 44 (range, 25~62) years. The most common symptom was inability to defecation and mean duration of this symptom was 13.6 (range, 0.75~45) years. Ten patients had slow colon transit and one patient had normal colon transit with anismus. All patients were followed up for mean duration of 33 (range, 5~120) months. Mean bowel frequency was 4 times per day after colectomy. Nine patients were satisfied with the results of surgery and showed improvement in quality of life. One patient was less satisfied due to diarrhea even with several times bowel movement per day. One patient felt that the operation was not so effective due to incontinence for liquid stool and 7 bowel movement per day. Three patients frequently used antidiarrheal medication after surgery. Three patients had postoperative small bowel obstruction and were treated without surgery. CONCLUSION: Subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis produces a satisfactory functional outcome in the majority of patients with proven slow transit constipation.
Colectomy* ; Colon ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Capecitabine ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Deoxycytidine ; Fluorouracil ; Humans

PURPOSE: The conventional surgical treatment for patients with potentially curable low rectal cancer is abdominoperineal resection. Recently there has been increasing interest in the use of preoperative radiation therapy and sphincter-saving procedure as primary therapy for selected low rectal cancers. We report our institutional experience with this approach. METHODS: From 1995 to 1997, Twelve patients with resectable distal rectal cancer were offered sphincter-saving procedure, excluding the patients whose pretreatment tumor presentation demonstrated fixation to anal sphincter or puborectalis muscle. The distance from the anal verge to the distal tumor margin at initial diagnosis ranged from 1 to 5 cm. Patients received a median 50.4 Gy and chemotherapy Surgery was carried out 4 to 8 weeks after radiation. RESULTS: No patient had toxic reaction that required interruption of chemoradiation. Four patients (33%) had complete pathologic response, but one patient with complete clinical response had residual cancer. Seven patients underwent hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis and five patients transanal excision en bloc. All patients were able to successfully undergo a sphincter-saving procedure. With a mean follow-up of 23 months (range, 6~32), the authors noted no recurrence or complication. Sphincter function was good in 92%. Daily bowel movements was two (range, 1~10). CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemoradiation appears promising in terms of better patient compliance, lesser toxicity, and downstaging tumor, making the sphincter-saving procedure feasible in carefully selected cases. Surgical resection remains essential to confirm and to achieve complete clinical remission. The results of preoperative chemoradiation and sphinctersaving procedure are encouraging, but more experience is needed to determine whether this approach ultimately has similar local control and survival rate compared to standard surgery.
Anal Canal ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Patient Compliance ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) was the conventional operation for the last 100 years, however it decreased recently for the improvement of sphincter preserving operations, especially of hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis (CAA). The aim of this study is to evaluate oncological results for the CAA. METHODS: From January 1992 to August 2000, 107 consecutive patients with rectal cancer within 7 cm from anal verge who underwent a curative resection were evaluated retrospectively by operations (APR, CAA, and stapled low anterior resection, LAR). No temporary stoma was made for CAA and LAR. RESULTS: The mean age is 57.4 and the distance from the anal verge was 4.12 cm (+/-1.55) for 65 males and 4.13 cm (+/-1.67) for 42 females (p>0.05). The age, gender, tumor location, size, resection margin, and stage were not statistically significant according to the operations. The CAA increased from 8% (early) to 64% (late), and the APR decreased from 59% (early) to 16% (late). The 5 year survival rate was 70.1% (84.3% for Dukes B and 40.8% for Dukes C). Survivals were not statistically significant according to the type of operation. The local recurrence rate was 7.4% (13.8% for stapled low anterior resection, 7.0% for APR, and 2.8% for CAA). Of the patients with a CAA, 54% had received preoperative radiation therapy (45~55 Gy). In the late period, tumors located within 5 cm from the anal verge with fat or perirectal lymph nodes involved received preoperative radiation, and the sphincter-preserving rate was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: CAA is an effective technique, with a safe oncologic result, for sphincter preservation in very low rectal cancer.
Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

A precise knowledge of the depth of invasion of tumor is essential for the planning of treatment of rectal cancer. Transrectal ultrasonography is a new diagnostic modality that has become useful in determining the depth of invasion preoperatively and the presence or absence of metastatic lymph nodes. Transrectal ultrasonography was used in preoperative staging of 36 patients with rectal cancer. Thirty three patients had a radical resection (17 low anterior resection, 15 abdominoperineal resection and 1 pelvic exenteration), one patient had a local excision. Two among these thirty four patients had preoperative radiotherapy. Preoperative transrectal ultrasonographic staging was compared with pathologic findings. In staging depth of invasion, the overall accuracy was 88.8 percent, overstaged in 5.8 percent, understaged in 5.8 percent. Transrectal ultrasonography is the more accurate method than CT in staging of depth of tumor invasion (61.8% vs 88.8%). In staging of lymph nodes, the overall accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography was 85.3 percent, sensitivity was 71.7 percent and specificity was 88.8 percent. Transrectal ultrasonography is a safe, inexpensive and accurate staging method in the assessment of both depth of invasion and nodal status.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Rectal Neoplasms/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The rectal cancer management can be influenced by the surgeon's practice and the hospital. This study was to evaluate the differences according to the surgeon's operative volume and the level of the hospital. Questionnaires were sent out to the members of the 'Korean Society of Coloproctology', and the responses were evaluated according to the surgeon's operation volume, the surgeon's age, and the level of the hospital. Sixty responses were received during the three months' period (from August to October 2004). Thirty three respondents (55%) operated more than 50 cases of rectal cancer per year (high-volume surgeons), and 37 respondents (61%) worked at university hospitals or tertiary care facilities (high-level hospitals). The preoperative evaluation with endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) was significantly different according to the surgeon's operation volume and the level of the hospital, whereas magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) was significantly different only for the surgeon's operation volume. The preoperative radiation therapy was significantly different according to the surgeon's operation volume, the surgeon's age, and the level of the hospital. However, there was no significant difference found on the operative procedures or postoperative surveillance. The preoperative loco-regional evaluation and the preoperative radiation therapy could be considered as the factors that influence the volume-outcome relationship in rectal cancer treatment.
Adult ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colorectal Surgery/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Preoperative Care ; Questionnaires ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Rectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*surgery/therapy

PURPOSE: An adequate pain control is one of important factors for obtaining good outcomes in the ambulatory basis of hemorrhoidectomy. There have been many methods for pain control after hemorrhoidectomy such as narcotics, various kinds of analgesics, etc. The aim of this study is to compare intraoperative internal anal sphincter injection of Ketorolac tromethamine and other two conventional methods for pain control. METHODS: A total of 56 patients with hemorrhoid grade III or IV underwent surgery between May and October 1999, and prospectively assigned to three groups in the consecutive order. The group was divided in Group 1: [Ketorolac tromethamine (Tarasyn) 60 mg intrasphincteric injection intraoperatively and 30 mg IM/prn?10 mg po/6hrs], Group 2: [No intraoperative injection and maintain pain control with Tarasyn 30 mg IM/prn/10 mg po/6hrs], and Group 3: [No intraoperative injection and maintain pain control with Pethidine (Demerol) 50 mg IM/prn and Ibuprofen 400 mg/Paracetamol 500 mg/Codeine 20 mg (Myprodol) po/8hrs]. The post operative data and pain scoring was performed on the questionnaire with Point box scale (BS-11) and Behavioral rating scale (BRS-6) each 24 hours during 5 days after surgery. RESULTS: There are 22 patients in the Group 1, 16 in the Group 2 and 18 patients in the Group 3. The median age of the Group 1 is 42.5, Group 2, 44.5 and Group 3, 45 years. The pain score on the first day after surgery in group 1 was significantly lower than group 2 (p<0.05) in the both pain scoring scale but was no differences between group 1 and 3. On the fifth day after surgery group 3 was significantly lower than both group 1 and 2 in the point box scale (p<0.05). The urinary retention rate and the day of first bowel movement after surgery show no differences among three groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative internal anal sphincter injection of Ketorolac tromethamine shows a better pain control than conventional methods in early postoperative period. Therefore it might be helpful for patients to go home on the day after surgery, and strong pain killer to control pain after discharge will be needed.
Anal Canal* ; Analgesics ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Ketorolac Tromethamine* ; Ketorolac* ; Meperidine ; Narcotics ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tromethamine ; Urinary Retention

Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis is infrequently seen in patients receiving pelvic irradiation. The treatment of hemorrhagic ralation proctitis is often difficult. Many patients need reyeated hospitalizations and blood transfusions. Occasionally patiets will develop severe or recurrent rectal bleeding. In case of massive bleeding requiring excessive transfusion, colonic diversion by construction of a colostomy or excision of the diseased segment may be inevitable. However, surgical procedures in these patients are associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Moreover, medical therapy is usually ineffective. Recently formalin therapy has been introduced as a simple and effective treatment for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis. We experienced a 69 year-old woman patient who developed severe homorrhagic proctitis 1 year after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. She had not improved by conservative management and required blood tranafusions and repetitive hospitalizations. After local application of a 4% formalin solution in the diseased rectum under caudal anesthesia, the bleeding immediately stopped and the patient was discharged from the hospital, and no recurrence has been observed until now.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Caudal ; Blood Transfusion ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Colostomy ; Female ; Formaldehyde* ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mortality ; Proctitis* ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Recurrence

Radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis (RIHP) is a serious complication of pelvic irradiation, and a 4% formalin solution has been used for 20 years in treating this sequelae. The first case involving formalin application for treatment of RIHP in Korea was reported in 1996, but there are no additional studies beyond this date. Our study reviews the use of formalin instillation and selective application. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome of such treatments, beginning with the first case at our hospital. From 1996 to 2005, five RIHP patients had received formalin treatment for RIHP symptoms intractable to other medical treatments. All treatments were performed by a single surgeon in the operating room, under spinal anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The mean duration of symptoms before treatment was 15.6 months (which was longer than in other studies), and the transfusion before treatment varied from once per month to twice per week. Using sigmoidoscopy, 100ml of a 4% formalin solution was instilled directly (or by using a formalin-soaked gauze) and irrigated for five minutes. Formalin-soaked cotton was then applied selectively to focal remnant lesions. Four patients improved after the first treatment, but one patient received the treatment twice because of recurrent symptoms. Complications after treatment included perianal pain (one case), and aggravated incontinence (one case), which improved three months after conservative management. In conclusion, the formalin combination application method in our study is comparable to other formalin treatments for intractable RIHP.