Sphincter Injury (sphincter + injury)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of Sphincter Injury

  • anal sphincter injury
  • obstetric anal sphincter injury


  • Selected Abstracts


    Assessment of the intrinsic urethral sphincter component function in postprostatectomy urinary incontinence

    NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2002
    Christian Pfister
    Abstract Postprostatectomy incontinence remains a disabling condition. Sphincter injury, detrusor instability, and decreased bladder compliance have been previously reported as major factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urethral sphincter intrinsic component, which may provide passive continence. A urodynamic evaluation was performed in 20 patients undergoing a radical retropubic prostatectomy in the preoperative period and 3 months after surgery. Patients with disabled urinary incontinence underwent a new urodynamic evaluation 6 months later. The urethral pressure profile was measured just before, then 10, 20, and 30 minutes after the injection of 0.5 mg/kg moxisylyte chlorhydrate, an alpha adrenergic blocker. Three different pressure components were defined in urethral sphincter capacity: baseline, adrenergic, and voluntary. A postoperative intrinsic urethral sphincter pressure component was found in 17 patients and its value was under 6 cm H2O in five cases of severe incontinence. No significant difference was observed for these patients on urethral profile components 6 months later. In contrast, in cases of significant intrinsic component value, no incontinence was observed in most patients. Passive continence after radical prostatectomy should be a matter of concern and may also explain paradoxical incontinence, despite high voluntary urethral pressure obtained after reeducation. A follow-up evaluation of the intrinsic sphincter component is suggested, by using an alpha receptor blockage test during urodynamic studies in the management of patients with postprostatectomy incontinence. Neurourol. Urodynam. 21:194,197, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Asymmetric sphincter innervation is associated with fecal incontinence after anal sphincter trauma during childbirth

    NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 1 2007
    Beate M. Wietek
    Abstract Aims Functional asymmetry of pelvic floor innervation has been shown to exist in healthy subjects, and has been proposed to be a predictor of increased risk for fecal incontinence in case of trauma. However, this remains to be shown for different clinical conditions such as traumatic childbirth. Methods A conventional surface EMG system was used to assess the innervation of the external anal sphincter. A symmetry index was used to define the relative EMG amplitude asymmetry of the external anal sphincter between 0 (symmetric) and 1 (asymmetric). Three cohorts were studied: 40 nulliparous women in the third trimester (Study 1), 15 primiparous women within 6 months following vaginal delivery without clinically apparent anal sphincter trauma (Study 2), and 50 women after childbirth-related third or fourth degree perineal tear 6,12 months postpartum (Study 3). Furthermore, all women underwent conventional anorectal manometry. Results Sixteen or forty nulliparous women reported signs of fecal incontinence; however, relative asymmetry was not correlated to symptom severity (P,=,0.345), and not to manometric measures (Study 1). In Study 2, Women who had suffered clinically apparent anal sphincter trauma (P,=,0.07) tended to have a stronger association between incontinence and asymmetry. In Study 3, 19/50 women reported moderate to severe incontinence. Asymmetry and symptom severity were significantly correlated (P,<,0.001). Patients with incontinence had a significantly higher asymmetry score than their continent counterparts. Conclusion Functional asymmetry of anal sphincter innervation is significantly associated with incontinence symptoms, but only after childbirth-related sphincter injuries and therefore, should be regarded as an additional risk factor. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Faecal incontinence after lateral internal sphincterotomy is often associated with coexisting occult sphincter defects: A study using endoanal ultrasonography

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 10 2001
    Joe J. Tjandra
    Background: Troublesome faecal incontinence following a lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) is often attributed to faulty surgical techniques: division of excessive amount of internal sphincter or inadvertent injury to the external sphincter. The aim of the present paper was to assess the anatomic and physiological factors that may contribute to faecal incontinence following a technically satisfactory lateral internal sphincterotomy by a group of colorectal specialists. Methods: Fourteen patients (nine women, five men; median age: 38 years; range: 23,52 years) who developed troublesome postoperative faecal incontinence were evaluated by clinical assessment, endoanal ultrasonography and anorectal physiological studies (manometry, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency) by two independent observers. The Cleveland Clinic continence score (0,20; 0, perfect continence; 20, complete incontinence) was used to quantify the severity of faecal incontinence. Fourteen continent subjects after a LIS (nine female patients, five male patients; median age: 36 years; range: 20,44 years) were also evaluated as ,continent' controls (continence score , 4). Results: In the incontinent group, the median postoperative Cleveland Clinic continence score was 9 (range: 6,13) compared with a preoperative score of 1 (range: 0,3). On assessment by endoanal ultrasonography the site of the internal sphincterotomy was clearly identified. There were additional coexisting defects, on endoanal ultrasonography, of the external anal sphincter in seven female patients, of the internal sphincter in two female and two male patients; and a defect of both the external and internal sphincters in a male patient who had had a prior fistulotomy. The pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) was prolonged in two female patients on the side contralateral to the lateral internal sphincterotomy. In two of five male patients there was no evidence of any occult sphincter injuries. In the continent controls a defect of the distal portion of the external sphincter was noted in one female patient. None of the patients had a prolonged PNTML. The maximum voluntary contraction was significantly lower in the female subjects than in the female continent controls (92 mmHg vs 140 mmHg; P < 0.05), while the resting anal canal pressures and length of the high pressure zone were similar between the study subjects and the continent controls. Conclusion: Troublesome faecal incontinence after a satisfactorily performed lateral internal sphincterotomy is often associated with coexisting occult sphincter defects. [source]


    Recent impact of anal sphincter injury on overall Caesarean section incidence

    AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
    Rhona MAHONY
    Abstract Introduction:, Because of increasing recognition of obstetric anal sphincter injury and faecal incontinence, we examined the recent impact of these indications on our institutional Caesarean section incidence. Methods:, Retrospective review of the indications for multiparous Caesarean section was performed at the National Maternity Hospital for the 4 years 2000,2003, inclusive, to identify women in whom previous anal sphincter injury was an indication. Individual charts were reviewed and data regarding the nature and extent of previous anal sphincter injury were obtained. Results:, Among 17 586 consecutive multiparous deliveries, previous anal sphincter trauma constituted the indication for Caesarean delivery in 67 women, representing 0.4% of all multiparae, 2.9% of multiparous Caesarean sections and 1.3% of all Caesarean sections performed. Fifty (85%) of the 67 women who opted for prelabour Caesarean delivery following previous obstetric anal sphincter injury had symptoms of faecal incontinence (mean continence score 5, range 1,17). Conclusion:, Notwithstanding recent increased awareness and documentation, anal sphincter problems represent a small influence on total Caesarean incidence. [source]


    Liverpool Ultrasound Pictorial Chart: the development of a new method of documenting anal sphincter injury diagnosed by endoanal ultrasound

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
    GE Fowler
    Objective, To develop and validate a pictorial chart that documents ultrasound examination of the anal sphincter. Design, A new pictorial chart (Liverpool Ultrasound Pictorial Chart [LUPIC]) depicting the normal anatomy of the anal sphincter was developed. Methods, To validate LUPIC, two observers documented the findings of 296 endoanal scans. Reliability was assessed between observers using kappa agreement for presence and position of sphincter defects. To validate the use of LUPIC by different observers, a video of ten endoanal ultrasound scans was reviewed by our local expert (gold standard). Seven clinicians underwent test-retest analysis. Kappa agreement was calculated to assess intra-observer and gold standard versus observer agreement for the overall presence of sphincter defects and compared with the gold standard. Complete agreement for the position and level of sphincter defects was assessed for the five abnormal scans. Main outcome measures, Excellent agreement between the two observers was found for the presence (kappa 0.99), position and level of external anal sphincter defects documented using LUPIC. The intra-observer and gold standard versus observer kappa values of experienced clinicians (A,E) showed good agreement for the overall presence of sphincter defects. Complete agreement for the position and level of sphincter defects was found in 23 of 35 (66%) observations. Conclusions, LUPIC is designed and validated method of documenting anal sphincter injury diagnosed by endoanal ultrasound. Standardisation of endoanal ultrasound findings by using LUPIC may help correlate the degree of damage with patient symptoms. [source]


    Randomised clinical trial of a laxative alone versus a laxative and a bulking agent after primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injury

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
    M Eogan
    Objective, To compare two postpartum laxative regimens in women who have undergone primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injury. Design, Randomised controlled trial. Setting, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin. Population, A total of 147 postpartum women who had sustained anal sphincter injury at vaginal birth. Methods, Women were randomised to receive either lactulose alone thrice daily for the first three postpartum days followed by sufficient lactulose to maintain a soft stool over the following 10 days (lactulose group, n= 77) or the lactulose regimen combined with a sachet of ispaghula husk daily for the first 10 postpartum days (FybogelÔ group, n= 70). All patients kept a diary of bowel habit for the first 10 postpartum days and were invited to return for review at 3 months postpartum. Main outcome measures, Patient discomfort with first postpartum bowel motion, incidence of postnatal constipation and incontinence and incontinence score in postnatal period. Results, Pain scores were similar in the two treatment groups; but incontinence in the immediate postnatal period was more frequent with the two preparations compared with lactulose alone (32.86% versus 18.18%, P= 0.03). Conclusions, This study does not support routine prescribing of a stool-bulking agent in addition to a laxative in the immediate postnatal period for women who have sustained anal sphincter injury at vaginal delivery. [source]


    Author's reply: How to repair an anal sphincter injury after vaginal delivery: results of a randomised controlled trial

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2006
    A Williams
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    A randomised clinical trial comparing the effects of delayed versus immediate pushing with epidural analgesia on mode of delivery and faecal continence

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 12 2002
    Myra Fitzpatrick
    Objective To assess the effects of delayed vs immediate pushing in second stage of labour with epidural analgesia on delivery outcome, postpartum faecal continence and postpartum anal sphincter and pudendal nerve function. Design Prospective, randomised, controlled trial. Setting Tertiary referral maternity teaching hospital. Population One hundred and seventy nulliparous women randomised at full dilatation to immediate or delayed pushing. Methods A total of 178 nulliparous women, all with continuous epidural analgesia, were randomised at full cervical dilatation, but before the fetal head had reached the pelvic floor, to either immediate pushing or 1 hour delayed pushing. Labour outcome was analysed and all women underwent postpartum assessment of anal sphincter function, including anal manometry. Those women who had a normal delivery underwent neurophysiology studies, while those women who had an instrumental delivery underwent endoanal ultrasound. Main outcome measures Mode of delivery; altered faecal continence. Results Ninety women were randomised to immediate pushing and 88 to delayed pushing. The spontaneous delivery rate was 56% (50/90) in the immediate pushing group and 52% (46/88) in the delayed pushing group. Mean duration of labour for the immediate pushing group was 427 minutes compared with 480 minutes for the delayed pushing group (P= 0.005). Eighty-four percent (76/90) of women in the immediate pushing group received oxytocin to augment labour, 21/76 (28%) in the second stage only. Eighty-one percent (71/88) of women in the delayed pushing group received oxytocin to augment labour, 22/71 (31%) in the second stage only. Fetal outcome did not differ between the two groups. Episiotomy rates were 73% and 69% in the immediate pushing and delayed pushing groups, respectively. 26% (23/90) of the immediate pushing group and 38% (33/88) of the delayed pushing group complained of altered faecal continence after delivery (NS). Manometry, ultrasound and neurophysiology studies did not differ significantly between the two groups. Overall, 55% of women after instrumental delivery had endosonographic evidence of damage to the external anal sphincter, while 36% of women after spontaneous delivery had abnormal neurophysiology studies. Conclusions Rates of instrumental delivery were similar following immediate and delayed pushing, in association with epidural analgesia. Delayed pushing prolonged labour by 1 hour but did not result in significantly higher rates of altered continence or anal sphincter injury, when compared with immediate pushing. [source]


    Anal vector volume analysis complements endoanal ultrasonographic assessment of postpartum anal sphincter injury

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 9 2000
    M. M. Fynes
    Background The aim of this study was to determine the role of anal vector manometry in the assessment of postpartum anal sphincter injury and to establish the most suitable method of anal vector volume analysis for identifying significant external anal sphincter (EAS) injury in an at-risk parous population. Methods A total of 101 consecutive women with a history of instrumental or traumatic vaginal delivery was recruited. Anal ultrasonography and anal vector manometry were performed. Receiver,operator characteristic curves were used to determine the usefulness of anal manometry and anal vector volume analysis in the identification of significant EAS disruption (full thickness, more than one quadrant involved) detected by ultrasonography. Results Seventeen women had significant EAS disruption identified by anal ultrasonography. Anal vector manometry provided complementary functional information. Anal vector symmetry index (VSI), determined by analysis of mean maximum squeeze pressure, yielded 100 per cent sensitivity for significant EAS disruption, with a positive predictive value of 61 per cent. Conclusion Anal vector manometry complements endoanal ultrasonography. VSI, determined by means of the squeeze pressure profile, correlates best with significant EAS disruption identified at anal ultrasonography. © 2000 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]