OBJECTIVE: This study reviews the results, and aims to assess our experience in outpatient rubber band ligation for symptomatic hemorrhoids in one tertiary hospital in Metro Manila.

METHODS: Patients underwent rubber band ligation with follow-ups scheduled at weekly intervals. Demographics, treatment success and complications were noted and tabulated.

RESULTS: A total of 183 rubber band ligations were performed. Successful treatment was measured based on resolution of symptoms on succeeding follow-ups. Complications and factors contributing to treatment failure were identified.

CONCLUSION: The success rate of the procedure was 97 percent and overall treatment failure rate was 3 percent. Complications such as bleeding, recurrence and post-ligation pain were not significant and were treated conservatively. Multiple rebleedings and residual hemorrhoids were considered as treatment failures with anticoagulant intake, prolonged bleeding history and associated anorectal pathology contributing to this outcome. Overall, the results of the study is comparable to international standards and is feasible in the local setting.

Hemorrhoids ; Rectal Diseases

Locally made radiopaque markers for colonic transit study are presented, specifically on how they were made, and how they compared radiographically with markers available abroad. These markers were produced using locally available materials like barium powder, a feeding tube, cyanoacrylate, and emptied drug capsules. They were then ingested and monitored by X-ray. They were found to be radiographically comparable with imported ones. No adverse events were noted when used in 5 patients: 2 patients with constipation secondary to chronic laxative abuse, 2 patients with reducible complete rectal prolapse, and 1 patient with constipation secondary to short segment Hirschsprungs' Disease. (Author)

Human ; Constipation ; Rectal Prolapse ; X-rays ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Barium ; Laxatives ; Capsules ; Cyanoacrylates ; Radiography ; Rectum

A five-year review of anorectal complications seen following radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma was done with the following objectives: 1) to present the profile of patients presenting with anorectal complications following radiation treatment for cervical cancer; 2) to describe the manifestations of these complications and findings on proctosigmoidoscopy with biopsy; and 3) to present the approaches in their management. A total of 116 patients, all with confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer, were seen over this period. Mean age was 49.5 years. All received external beam cobalt and intracavitary radium. Complications were observed from 10 days to 20 months after treatment. Anal bleeding was the most common complaint (62%), followed by rectovaginal fistula (14%). Residual/recurrent malignancy was noted in seven patients (6%). Treatment modalities varied considerably, ranging from conservative and symptomatic treatment for bleeding, pain, constipation, and diarrhea, to major abdominal procedures for rectovaginal fistula

Human ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Constipation ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Cobalt ; Pain ; Biopsy ; Diarrhea ; Anus Diseases