Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Options, with Special Focus on the STARR Procedure Ada Rosen MD
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EDITORIALS IMAJ • VOL 12 • FEBRUARY 2010 Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Options, with Special Focus on the STARR Procedure Ada Rosen MD Department of Surgery A, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel of constipation caused by obstructed nerves) [3]. Treatment can be conser- KEY WORDS: obstructed defecation syndrome, defecation: functional and mechanical. vative, such as the use of stool soft- STARR procedure, constipation, The functional type causes idiopathic eners, sphincter exercises and avoid- rectocele megarectum, anismus, descending ance of straining. Treatment may also IMAJ 2010; 12: 104–106 perineal syndrome, and solitary rectal be surgical, namely, post-anal repair, ulcer syndrome [3]. which corrects the anorectal angle. • Megarectum is an enlarged rectal • Solitary rectal ulcer 4–10 cm from diameter up to 6 cm at the level of the the anal verge usually occurs on the hronic constipation is a common pelvic brim, or total rectal capacity of anterior wall (68%). In these cases C self-reported bowel symptom that over 450 ml of air on manometry. In we often encounter a hyperactive affects 2–30% of people in the western special cases in children, megarec- puborectalis muscle with paradoxical world. It has a considerable impact on tum is due to a damaged mienteric contractions. It is frequently associ- health costs and quality of life. About plexus and abnormal motor func- ated with straining and prolapse (par- 30–50% of constipated patients have tion of the rectum [3]. Treatment is tial or complete). Treatment consists obstructed defecation [1,2]. surgical – anorectal myectomy or the of administration of local steroids The classical symptoms are pain at Duhamel procedure. and stool softeners (to prevent strain- defecation, extreme straining to def- • Anismus, also known as spastic pel- ing), as well as biofeedback [4,5]. If ecate, extended time on the toilet, long vic floor and pelvic floor dyssynergia, prolapse is present, it should be sur- interval between two evacuations (5–10 is a malfunction of the external anal gically repaired. days), perineal pain/discomfort when sphincter and puborectalis muscle standing, feeling of incomplete evacua- during defecation. This is a paradoxical Mechanical causes of obstructed defeca- tion, and fragmented defecation [1]. contraction: failure to relax the pelvic tion are stricture, neoplasm, enterocele, Once a patient with these com- floor and anal muscles during defeca- intussusception, rectal prolapse, and plaints enters a pelvic floor clinic, a very tion [3]. The treatment for anismus rectocele. detailed diagnostic workup is necessary is difficult since patients with func- • Stricture usually follows surgery or to assess the exact cause of obstruction tional defecation disorders are often trauma. Treatment can be conservative and to tailor the most appropriate treat- unresponsive to conservative medical (use of stool softeners and enemas), ment. The diagnostic workup starts with management such as stool softeners invasive (use of dilators, YAG laser, a general investigation that includes: and niphedipine. Biofeedback train- or diathermy), or surgical (resection, history of symptoms, physical exami- ing has a success rate of 70–78% [4,5]. sphincterotomy or anoplasty). nation (digital anal examination and Treatment with botulinum toxin in- • Neoplasm, which should be ruled anoscopy), blood tests, barium enema or jection may provide temporary im- out by colonoscopy. colonoscopy, and rectal biopsy if need- provement, but it remains an investi- • Enterocele is the herniation of small ed. This is followed by specific anorectal gational treatment. Surgical division bowel into the pouch of Douglas. tests, such as anorectal manometry, bal- of the puborectalis muscle can also be Treatment is laparoscopic closure of loon expulsion test, rectal compliance, offered to these patients [6]. the enlarged pouch of Douglas. [7]. electromyography, nerve stimulation, • Descending perineum syndrome • Rectal prolapse/intussusception is transit studies, defecography, and endo- is caused by excessive straining and a partial (mucosal) or complete pro- anal ultrasound. weakened perineal muscles (possible trusion of the entire thickness of the We distinguish between two types stretching damage to the pudendal rectal wall through the anal sphincter. 104 IMAJ • VOL 12 • FEBRUARY 2010 EDITORIALS It is classified as first degree when the ment option for obstructed defecation protrusion is invisible, second degree Figure 1. Stapled transanal rectal resection syndrome [14]. According to a Milan resection (STARR) [20] when it is visible on straining, and study reported in 2009, STARR is safe third degree when visible externally. and effective in the treatment of solitary It is caused by diastasis of the leva- rectal ulcer associated with internal rectal tors, deep Douglas pouch, redundant prolapse and has minimal complications rectosigmoid, patulous anus, or loss and no recurrence after 2 years [15]. of rectal horizontal position (due Recently, a new device – the CCS-30 to loose attachment to the sacrum). Contour Transtar – was developed by Treatment is surgical by the abdomi- the same Professor Longo. A multi- nal approach (Ribshtain procedure, STARR (stapled transanal rectal resec- center prospective study from Naples which is a fixation of the stretched tion) is a new surgical procedure that was confirms that the device is effective and rectum to the sacrum with or with- launched by Longo in 2001. It is a mini- safe and has functional results similar out a mesh), the perineal approach mally invasive transanal operation for rec- to those of the conventional STARR (Altemeier operation that involves a tocele and mucosal/rectal prolapse using [16]. This procedure (with both tech- sleeve resection of the prolapsed rec- a double circular stapler [Figure 1]. niques), according to most authors, tum and colon with a primary anas- In January 2006, the European is effective; the postoperative pain is tomosis performed transanally, or STARR registry was initiated. According mild, and the procedure is very much the Thiersch ring), or transanal (the to the results published in 2009 on 2838 accepted among colorectal surgeons for STARR procedure: namely, stapled patients, the improvement in rectal func- the treatment of rectocele as well as for transanal rectal resection). tion and quality of life was statistically internal rectal prolapse in patients with • Rectocele is defined as a herniation significant [13]. A multicenter study obstructed defecation. Yet, it should be of the rectal wall through a defect conducted in Spain between 2001 and emphasized that STARR is associated in the rectovaginal septum in the 2006 concluded that this procedure is with complications such as postop- direction of the vagina. It was tradi- associated with low morbidity and short erative bleeding, chronic proctalgia, tionally considered as a defect in the hospital stay and is an effective treat- rectovaginal fistula, stricture, and fecal rectovaginal septum, not the rectum. Possible causes are erect bipedal Figure 2. S.T.A.R.R. Written and agreed upon by the group of S.T.A.R.R. Pioneers Oct. 26-28, 2006 posture, vaginal childbirth, chronic increase in abdominal pressure (con- Diagnostic Approach Treatment Options after Dynamic Imaging stipation, straining), or congenital or Before the patient sees the surgeon Clinically & morphologically confirmed S.T.A.R.R. inherited weakness in the pelvic sup- Colonoscopy to rule out tumors + inflammatory Internal prolapse +/- rectocele only bowel disease (IBD), etc. port system. Classical symptoms are Patient was treated, but conservative treatment with incomplete rectal emptying or bulge laxatives/enemas/diet failed Clinically & morphologically confirmed Treatment of Internal prolapse +/- rectocele associated disorders in the vagina. Evacuation is often associated with other morphological as per local practice digitally supported. The definitive When the patient sees the surgeon disorders objective diagnosis of rectocele is Patient interview • Enterocele (low and stable) Reassessment of ODS • Patient history • Sigmoidocele (low and stable) symptoms, if positive most commonly made by defec- • ODS assessment (score assessment) • Urogenital prolapse • Incontinence assessment (score assessment) • External rectal prolapse S.T.A.R.R. ography. This also assesses the size • Urogenital symptoms of the rectocele and the emptying • Quality of life / patient motivation assessment Clinically & morphologically confirmed Biofeedback capacity. The surgical indications for Inernal prolapse +/- rectocele Clinical examination associated with pelvic dyssynergia rectocele repair are controversial, but Reassessment of ODS • Perineal examination symptoms, if positive most surgeons advocate operative • Proctoscopy (rest/ straining) repair when a symptomatic recto- • Urogenital exam S.T.A.R.R. cele is large (> 3 cm), or if it fails to empty sufficiently on defecography. Clinical evaluation Clinically & morphologically confirmed With sphincter defect • Defecography/ perineography or dynamic MRI Internal prolapse +/- rectocele The treatment of rectocele is sur- • Anal manometry and endo-anal ultrasound – associated with fecal incontinence gery, the surgical approach can be only if incontinence or suspicion of sphincter Tailored therapy S.T.A.R.R. based on leading transvaginal [8], transperineal [9], damage; otherwise not mandatory symptoms and