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Biomedical subjects

B Bittorf

Publications and source records attributed to B Bittorf.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cerebral representation of the anorectum using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Anorectal continence depends not only on the organs of continence but also on cerebral control. There are relatively few data regarding cerebral processing of anorectal continence. METHODS: Thirteen healthy subjects underwent rectal distension to cause urge increasing to discomfort during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In addition, a painful heat stimulus was applied to the skin of the anterior abdominal wall in the dermatome corresponding to the rectum. Voluntary contraction of the anal sphincter was also performed. Subjective rating of stimulus intensity was recorded. Evaluation of the data used a general linear model with Brain Voyager(trade mark). RESULTS: Subjective sensation of discomfort increased during repeated rectal distension and caused activation in the anterior cingulate gyrus, insula, thalamus and secondary somatosensory cortex seen on fMRI. Perception of rectal urge and discomfort activated the same cerebral regions with differing intensity. Application of a painful thermal stimulus in the corresponding dermatome showed a modification of the response. Voluntary contraction of the anal sphincter led to activation of the motor cortex and increased activity in the supplementary motor cortex and the insula. CONCLUSION: Cerebral representation of the anorectum as mapped by fMRI is intricate and reflects the complexity of the continence mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The influence of abdomino-peranal (intersphincteric) resection of lower third rectal carcinoma on the rates of sphincter preservation and locoregional recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: The most extended form of rectal resection, representing the very last option for sphincter preservation is abdomino-peranal intersphincteric resection for tumours of the lower third which otherwise would not be resectable with preservation of the sphincter by an abdominal approach alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 476 patients with a carcinoma in the lower third of the rectum who underwent primary treatment for stage I-III disease by low anterior resection, abdomino-peranal (intersphincteric) resection or abdominoperineal excision between 1985 and 2001 were analysed. The time periods 1985-94 and 1995-2001 were compared. RESULTS: The rate of intersphincteric resections increased from 3% in 1985-94 to 27% in 1995-2001 while abdominoperineal excisions decreased. Postoperative complication rate was not increased in intersphincteric resections (25%) while postoperative mortality did not differ between the operative procedures. The overall 5-year-rate of locoregional recurrence decreased from 18% to 16%. In intersphincteric resections 14.2% of the patients treated with radiochemotherapy developed locoregional recurrence, while this rate was 46.5% (7/18) if adjuvant treatment was not administered (P = 0.0200). The cancer-related 5-year survival rate was not altered by intersphincteric resection. CONCLUSION: In carcinomas of the lower third of the rectum, the application of abdomino-peranal intersphincteric resection can reduce the need for rectal excision by 20%. Neo-/adjuvant radiochemotherapy is required to reduce locoregional recurrence to an acceptable level.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence in patients with previous partial spinal injury including disc prolapse.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the use of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) to treat faecal incontinence in patients with partial spinal injury. METHODS: Patients selected for SNS had experienced more than one episode of faecal incontinence per week to liquid or solid stool for more than 1 year and had failed maximal conservative treatment. All patients had an intact external anal sphincter. RESULTS: Temporary SNS was performed in 13 patients (median age 58.5 (range 39-73) years). The spinal insults were disc prolapse (six), trauma (four), spinal stenosis (one) or occurred during neurosurgery (two). Twelve patients (eight women and four men) had successful temporary stimulation and proceeded to permanent implantation. The median follow-up time was 12 (range 6-24) months. The mean(s.d.) number of episodes of incontinence decreased from 9.33(7.64) per week at baseline to 2.39(3.69) at last follow-up (P = 0.012). The number of days per week with incontinence and staining decreased significantly (both P < 0.001). Ability to defer defaecation improved from a median of not being able to defer (range 0-1 min) to being able to defer for 5-15 (range 0 to over 15) min (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: SNS can benefit patients with faecal incontinence following partial spinal injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Survival after surgical treatment of cancer of the rectum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rectal carcinoma is one of the most prevalent tumour types. Prognostic factors are of special interest to estimate prognosis of the individual patient. PATIENTS/METHODS: The data of 1,067 consecutive patients with solitary invasive rectal carcinoma, resected between 1988 and 1999 at the Department of Surgery of the University of Erlangen, were analysed. Cancer-related survival rate was calculated by univariate and multivariate analysis with respect to all relevant proven and probable prognostic factors. RESULTS: The R classification was found to be the parameter with the greatest influence on survival of patients with rectal carcinoma. Other tumour-related prognostic factors that influenced prognosis significantly were the anatomical extent, described by the TNM classification of the UICC, tumour grade and extramural venous invasion (EVI). In addition, the operating surgeon, a therapy-related factor, and the preoperative serum CEA level were found to influence prognosis. CONCLUSION: Tumour-related prognostic factors have the greatest influence on clinical decisions with regard to choice of a therapeutic concept. The increasing survival rates after treatment of rectal carcinoma have led to a focus on postoperative quality of life. Postoperative long-term global quality of life is similar to the preoperative level. Oncological outcome is still the most important factor, and tumour recurrence leads to a strong impairment of quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Functional outcome after intersphincteric resection of the rectum with coloanal anastomosis in low rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Anterior rectal resection with partial removal of the internal sphincter is an option for low rectal cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome after this intersphincteric rectal resection. METHODS: Anal continence was evaluated by anorectal manometry and a standardized questionnaire (Wexner Score) in 33 patients 28+/-15 weeks and 100+/-45 weeks, respectively, after intersphincteric resection. Nineteen of the 33 patients were reconstructed with a straight anastomosis; 12 received a colonic J-pouch. RESULTS: Post-operatively, 25.8% of the patients were incontinent to solid stool and 54.8% were incontinent to liquid stool at least once a week. Mean and maximum resting tone (24+/-10 and 40+/-13 mmHg), maximum tolerable volume (77+/-28 ml) and rectal compliance (1.4+/-1.2 ml/mmHg) were reduced in anorectal manometry. Squeeze pressures remained unchanged. Only the maximum tolerable volume correlated significantly with the continence score (r=-0.45, p<0.05). The Wexner score and maximum tolerable volume were significantly better after colonic J-pouch reconstruction than after straight anastomosis (9.9+/-4.5 vs 13.4+/-4.0, p<0.05, 65+/-20 ml vs 100+/-27 ml, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intersphincteric resection of the rectum leads to impaired post-operative continence. The functional outcome is improved with a colonic J-pouch.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Anorectal function after low anterior resection.

Most patients with rectal carcinoma can now be treated with sphincter-sparing procedures. The quality of life after sphincter-sparing procedures is better than after abdominoperineal excision. However, morphology and physiology of the neorectum/sphincter complex are challenged and enthusians towards restorative surgery in rectal cancer was tempered by concerns over functional deficits: after low anterior resection a substantial portion of patients experience impaired anorectal function, in particular fecal leakage and urgency of defecation and report disturbed sexual function. The aim of our work was to investigate functional outcome and anorectal physiologic function as measured by manometry after the three most commonly used reconstructions of intestinal continuity: anterior rectal resection, low anterior rectal, and intersphincteric rectal resection.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

[Sacral nerve stimulation in the treatment of faecal incontinence].

BACKGROUND: Sacral nerve stimulation is a recent development in the treatment of faecal incontinence. This paper reports the experiences of a single center on the use of this technique since its first application. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Based on the functional results of a temporary test stimulation phase, 16 patients underwent operative implantation of a permanent neurostimulation device. Due to a functional deficit of the morphologically intact anal sphincter, all patients suffered from incontinence for liquid and solid stool. The aetiology varied among the patients. The median duration of symptoms was 8.5 years (2-30). Clinical function was evaluated by standardized questionnaires, the Cleveland Clinic incontinence score and the disease specific quality of life instrument (FIQL-ASCRS) before and during stimulation. Anorectal physiology was tested by anorectal manometry. RESULTS: Functional improvement was achieved in 94% of the patients. At a median follow-up of 32.5 months (3-99) treatment was successful in 81%. The percentage of incontinent bowel movements decreased from a median of 40% (5-100) before stimulation to 0% (0-20) with stimulation ( P=0.001). The Cleveland Clinic incontinence score improved from a median of 17 (11-20) to 5 (0-15) ( P=0.003). The quality of life index was improved in all categories.Mean squeeze pressure was increased form a median of 44 to 75 mmHg with stimulation ( P=0.003) and maximal squeeze pressure from a median of 69 to 97 mmHg (P=0.009). Resting pressure, perception, urge threshold and maximum tolerable volume were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: Sacral nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for faecal incontinence. Morbidity is low. Sacral nerve stimulation is indicated, if conservative treatment fails and more conventional surgical approaches are of limited success.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Rectal resection with low anastomosis: functional outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Function after anterior, low anterior and intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer was studied. METHOD: Of 139 patients 122 responded to a standardized questionnaire (Cleveland Clinic Continence Score) 108 +/- 46 weeks postoperatively and 70 underwent anorectal manometry at 26 +/- 15 weeks. RESULTS: The postoperative continence score was dependent on the procedure (anterior resection 4.1 +/- 4.6, low anterior resection 6.9 +/- 5.6, intersphincteric resection 11.5 +/- 5.2; P < 0.0001). It was poorer after radiochemotherapy (9.0 vs. 5.7; P = 0.030), but after colonic pouch reconstruction there was no significant difference between low anterior resection (5.6 vs. 7.3) and intersphincteric resection (10.0 vs. 12.5). Mean and maximal resting pressures were significantly reduced after intersphincteric resection (24 +/- 9 and 40 +/- 13 mmHg, respectively, P < 0.001) and further reduced by radiochemotherapy. Squeeze pressure was unaffected by the operative procedures and radiochemotherapy. Maximum tolerable volume and rectal compliance were reduced, after both low anterior and intersphincteric resection. Statistical correlation between continence score and maximal resting pressure (P = 0.014), mean resting pressure (P = 0.002), urge volume (P = 0.037), and neorectal compliance (P = 0.0018) reached significance. Satisfaction with the functional outcome was expressed by 71% of patients. CONCLUSION: After rectal resection the degree of impaired continence depended on the operative procedure and the form of reestablishment of intestinal continuity. Radiochemotherapy affected the outcome adversely. Despite reduced function, overall patient satisfaction was high.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Multiple primary malignancies: An epidemiological and pedigree analysis of 57 patients with at least three tumours.

AIM AND METHODS: Data of our patients with at least three primary malignancies were retrospectively analysed to detect any remarkable patterns which might be of interest for follow-up or early tumour detection and to identify a possible hereditary cancer predisposition. From 1.1.1954 to 1.8.1995 57 patients (0.1%) among a grand total of 52 398 cancer patients had a minimum of three malignancies. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates after colorectal, bladder, prostate, uterine corpus and gastric cancer were higher than those seen in patients with the corresponding solitary tumours. In both sexes, the mean interval between the individual tumours was greater (4.0 years) between the first and second tumours than between the second and third (2.5 years). In women, the intervals were roughly twice as long (6.8 and 3.7 years) as in men (3.7 and 2.0 years). 40.4% (n=23/57) had a colorectal, 28.1% (n=16) a bladder, and 41.7% (n=15/36 men) had a prostate carcinoma. 66.7% (n=14/21 women) contracted at least one gynaecological tumour. In 24 families HNPCC, in one a Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, and in another Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer was suspected.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Can continence function after rectal resection be prognostically estimated?].

AIM: To determine clinical and physiologic parameters enabling the prognosis of continence after protective ileostomy closure secondary to rectal resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: Patients who had undergone rectal resection (n = 65, of whom 24 had had radiochemotherapy) were evaluated by clinical examination, anorectal manometry and orthograde contrast enema before ileostomy closure. Continence was evaluated by clinical findings 91 +/- 52 weeks after stoma closure with the help of standardized questionnaires and classified according to the Wexner continence score. The relationship between findings before stoma closure and continence score was calculated with Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Correlations were found to be significant between the continence score and the level of anastomosis (r = -0.58, p < 0.001), median resting pressure (r = -0.52, p < 0.001), rectal compliance (r = -0.43, p < 0.001). Additionally, radiochemotherapy impairs continence (p = 0.0001). Correlations were not significant between continence and functional sphincter length, squeeze pressure, threshold for perception, urge and maximal tolerable volume, and continence for semiliquid contrast medium. CONCLUSION: Incontinence after rectum resection is multifactorial: the level of anastomosis, resting pressure, rectal compliance and radiochemotherapy all play a dominant role. Based on these findings, the continence score can be calculated before closure of a diverting ileostomy by applying multivariate analysis with the help of the following formula: Continence score = 18.23 - 0.94 x level of anastomosis - 0.18 x resting pressure + 3.72 x radiochemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rare case of chronic mesenteric ischemia after occlusion of the celiac trunk in a 15-year old boy].

BACKGROUND: Chronic mesenteric ischemia is extremely uncommon in childhood. Occlusion of the celiac axis by the median arcuate ligament (celiac axis compression syndrome) has been only described as a disorder of younger adults yet. CASE REPORT: We present a 15-year-old boy with a 18-month history of chronic intermittent upper abdominal pain. A chronic mesenteric ischemia due to compression of the celiac axis by the median arcuate ligament was recognized as cause of the complaints. Revascularisation by an autologous vein bypass from the abdominal aorta to the common hepatic artery led to restitution. CONCLUSIONS: Even in childhood intermittent abdominal pain may be generated by chronic mesenteric ischemia.

Abdominal Pain↗