Malone antegrade continent enema: an alternative to resection in severe defecation disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate patient self-reported outcome of the Malone antegrade continent enema at a single institution in patients suffering from severe defecatory disorders.


METHODS
A total of 18 patients (15 females; median age, 31 (range, 12-63) years) underwent a Malone antegrade continent enema (August 1999 to September 2004). The Malone antegrade continent enema technique has been previously described; however, in this series emphasis was placed on method appendix tunneling. Patients' charts were reviewed and follow-up telephone interviews were conducted. Indications for Malone antegrade continent enema were chronic constipation (n = 12), intractable fecal incontinence (n = 5), or both (n = 1). The underlying pathology included neurogenic (n = 2), congenital (n = 4), postsurgery-related (n = 4), irritable bowel syndrome (n = 6), and megarectum (n = 2). The appendix (n = 17) or cecum (n = 1) was used as a conduit.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up was 18.5 (range, 3-67) months. Fourteen patients (78 percent) still use the Malone antegrade continent enema routinely and report good functional outcome. Three patients (20 percent) required stoma creation as subsequent alternate treatment. A total of 10 patients experienced 12 complications: 3 perioperative (infections) and 9 postoperative Malone antegrade continent enema use/nonuse complications (4 stomal orifice strictures, 2 fecal impactions, 2 appendiceal perforations, and 1 irrigation catheter knot). No patient experienced leakage from the appendiceal stoma. During the follow-up interval, one patient underwent proctectomy for megarectum. No failures occurred in patients with congenital or neurogenic disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Malone antegrade continent enema is a reasonable option for the treatment of select patients with severe defecation disorders. Good functional patient self-reported outcome was achieved by 78 percent of patients. The social inconvenience of stoma leakage is avoided with appropriate surgical technique. Malone antegrade continent enema is one option that provides a less invasive surgical alternative than colectomy or ileostomy for severe defecation disorders.
Poirier
M
M
Division of Colorectal Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1740 West Taylor, Room 2204, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. mpoirier@uic.edu
Abcarian
H
H
Nelson
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002431:Cecostomy; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000601:surgery*; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome