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Descending Perineum Syndrome: Are Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bowel Habits Linked?

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

PURPOSE

This retrospective study evaluates the effect of abdominal hysterectomy on patients affected by descending perineum syndrome.

METHODS

Eighty-nine female patients affected by descending perineum syndrome and one group of 10 healthy women with normal bowel habits were studied retrospectively. Thirty-two descending perineum syndrome patients (Group 1) had received an abdominal hysterectomy for benign diseases, while 57 descending perineum syndrome patients (Group 2) had not undergone this surgery. All 99 subjects underwent clinical evaluation, computerized anorectal manometry, and defecography.

RESULTS

Dyschezia was found predominantly in Group 2 subjects (P < 0.05). Fecal incontinence was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.05). The worst anal resting pressure was found in the incontinent Group 1 patients (P < 0.01). Rectoanal intussusception was a significant defecographic sign in Group 1 subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical evaluation and instrumental data suggested a possible link between fecal incontinence and abdominal hysterectomy in patients affected by descending perineum syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Area Critica Medico-Chirurgica, Sezione di Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Discipline Chirurgiche, Unità di Colon-Proctologia, Università di Firenze, Firenze-Careggi, Italy

    Filippo Pucciani M.D., Daniele Boni M.D. & Federico Perna M.D.

  2. Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Sezione di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Gabrio Bassotti M.D.

  3. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Sezione di Gastroenterologia, Unità di Colon-Proctologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Massimo Bellini M.D.

Authors
  1. Filippo Pucciani M.D.
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  2. Daniele Boni M.D.
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  3. Federico Perna M.D.
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  4. Gabrio Bassotti M.D.
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  5. Massimo Bellini M.D.
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Correspondence to Filippo Pucciani M.D..

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Pucciani, F., Boni, D., Perna, F. et al. Descending Perineum Syndrome: Are Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bowel Habits Linked?. Dis Colon Rectum 48, 2094–2099 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-005-0163-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-005-0163-0

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