Publication

A prospective comparison between clinical outcome and open-configuration magnetic resonance defecography findings before and after surgery for symptomatic rectocele

Journal Paper/Review - Sep 1, 2006

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Hübner M, Hetzer F, Weishaupt D, Hahnloser D, Clavien P, Demartines N. A prospective comparison between clinical outcome and open-configuration magnetic resonance defecography findings before and after surgery for symptomatic rectocele. Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland 2006; 8:605-11.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland 2006; 8
Publication Date
Sep 1, 2006
Issn Print
1462-8910
Pages
605-11
Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND: The correlation between clinical symptoms and anatomical findings by conventional imaging is poor in patients with rectoceles. The aim of this prospective study was to assess and to correlate symptomatic changes after anterior levatorplasty with morphologic changes visualized by magnetic resonance defecography (MRD). METHOD: Fourteen women with a median age of 57 (range 37-83) accepted to participate. Seven of 14 had previous hysterectomy. Patients underwent MRD before surgery and again 6 months postsurgery. Pre- and postoperative symptoms and quality of life (QoL) (Eypasch) were assessed. Faecal and urinary incontinence were graded (Wexner- / Hanley-score). RESULTS: The median Eypasch-score improved from 90 (range 38-106) to 106 (range 29-133) after surgery (P = 0.016). Similarly, the Wexner-score ameliorated from 8 (range 0-20) to 4.5 (range 0-18; P = 0.02). Seven patients described new dyspareunia postoperatively. The median follow up was 16.5 months (range 9-45). The median rectocele size decreased from 37 mm (range 30-48) preoperatively to 12 mm (range 0-42) postoperatively (P = 0.004). Furthermore, enteroceles were corrected and pelvic floor descent was significantly reduced after surgery. Only the clinical symptom of incomplete evacuation strongly correlated with the respective radiological finding of contrast dye trapping (Rho = 0.822; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anterior levatorplasty improved QoL in patients with symptomatic rectocele. Postsurgical correction of rectocele is accurately documented by MRD. Only moderate correlation between morphologic and clinical improvements was observed.