Role of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound in assessing the anal sphincter morphology of female patients with chronic proctalgia

AIM To assess the role of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-EAUS) for morphological assessment of the anal sphincter of female patients with chronic proctalgia (CP). METHODS In this unmatched case control study, 30 consecutive female patients with CP and 25 normal women (control group) were enrolled. 3D-EAUS was performed in all subjects. Thickness and length of internal anal sphincter (IAS), thickness of puborectalis muscle (PR), length of the external anal sphincter (EAS) plus PR, and puborectalis angle were measured and compared between the two groups. RESULTS Patients with CP had significantly shorter IAS length and greater PR thickness, as compared to those in normal individuals (26.28 +/- 3.59 mm vs 28.87 +/- 4.84 mm, P < 0.05 and 9.67 +/- 1.57 mm vs 8.85 +/- 0.97 mm, P < 0.05, respectively). No significant between-group differences were observed with respect to IAS thickness and the EAS plus PR length (P > 0.05). Puborectalis angle in the CP group was significantly decreased, both in resting (88.23 degrees +/- 1.81 degrees vs 89.94 degrees +/- 2.07 degrees in control group, P < 0.05) and straining (88.47 degrees +/- 3.32 degrees vs 90.72 degrees +/- 1.87 degrees in control group, P < 0.05) phases, which suggest the presence of paradoxical contraction of PR in patients with CP. In the CP group, no significant difference in puborectalis angle was observed between the resting and straining phases (88.23 degrees +/- 1.81 degrees vs 88.47 degrees +/- 3.32 degrees respectively, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The association of greater PR thickness and paradoxical contraction of PR with CP suggest their potential value as markers of CP.

Quantitatively evaluation on pelvic floor dysfunction by virtual touch tissue imaging quantification shear wave elastography

Objective:To investigate the value of(VTIQ)shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction.Methods:20 patients with pelvic floor dysfunction and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in and devided into the pelvic floor dysfunction(PFD)group and the control group.20 cases in the normal non-fertile(NNF)group and the normal fertile(NF)group respectively were including in the control group.The Young's modulus of puborectalis(PR)in three groups was measured by virtual touch tissue imaging quantification(VTIQ)at different states.The Young's modulus of PR and their differences in the three groups and between groups were compared and calculated.Receiver-operating characteristic curve(ROC)analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic value of VTIQ,and the area under the curve(AUC)was compared.Results:Young's modulus of PR at resting-state,maximun rectal state and Vasalva state in NNF group and NF group were statistical significance(all P<0.05).Young's modulus of maximun rectal state was higher than that of resting-state and Vasalva state in PFD group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Young's modulus between the resting-state and Vasalva state in the PFD group(P>0.05).Difference of PR Young's modulus between resting status and maximun rectal state and that between resting status and Vasalva state were of statistical significance among the three groups(all P<0.05).ROC curves analyses indicated that the AUC,cut-off value,sensitivity,specificity and Youden index of the difference between the Young's modulus of resting status and maximun rectal state measured by VTIQ in control group and PFD group were 0.788,35.45kPa,91.67%,57.14%,0.488,espectively.The AUC,cut-off value,sensitivity,specificity and Youden index of the difference between the Young's modulus of resting status and Vasalva state measured by VTIQ in control group and PFD group were 0.799,14.00kPa,63.89%,85.71%,0.496,respectively.There was no significant difference in AUC between the two groups(Z=0.130,P>0.05).Conclusion:VTIQ technology is an effective method to quantitatively assess the biomechanical properties of PR.The effect of labor on the puborectalis muscle was not significant.The increase of Young's modulus of passive stretching in vasalva state was not significant in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.The difference between resting status and maximun rectal state and difference between resting status and Vasalva state is more advantageous to the diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction disorder.

Efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in treatment of anismus: A systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A) in the management of patients with anismus. METHODS: An organized search of published literature was conducted using electronic databases including: Pub Med/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Control ed Trials, also an internet-based search using "Google Scholar" service was conducted. Both comparative and observational studies were included. We excluded irrelevant articles, editorials, case reports, reviews, and meta-analyses. The studies that followed the patients less than 6 mo were excluded. Variables collected were demographic data of the patients, technique of BTX-A injection and number of sessions, short-term and longterm clinical improvement, post-injection changes in electromyography(EMG), defecography, manometry, and balloon expulsion test, and complications recorded after BTX-A injection.RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 189 patients were included in the review. The median age of the patients was 41.2 years and female-to-male ratio was 1.3:1. The median dose of BTX-A injected per procedure was 100 IU(range, 20-100 IU). Lateral injection was done in five trails and combined lateral and posterior injections in two trials. Three studies used endorectal ultrasonographyguided technique, one study used EMG-guided technique,whereas the remaining three studies used manual palpation with the index finger. The median percentage of patients who reported initial improvement of symptoms was 77.4%(range 37.5%-86.7%), this percentage declined to a median of 46%(range 25%-100%) at 4 mo after injection of BTX-A. Rates of improvement evaluated by balloon expulsion test, EMG, and defecography ranged between(37.5%-80%),(54%-86.7%), and(25%-86.6%), respectively. Fourteen(7.4%) patients developed complications after injection of BTX-A. Complication rates across the studies ranged from 0% to 22.6%. CONCLUSION: Initial satisfactory improvement of symptoms after BTX-A injection remarkably deteriorated after 3 mo of the procedure. However, repeated injection may provide better sustained results with no additional morbidities. Further analysis of more patients is necessary to conclude the safety of BTX-A for the treatment of anismus.