Prospective evaluation of the defecatory functional results in patients following aorto-aortic reconstruction surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
Anterior rectal resections have been associated with postoperative bowel function abnormalities, a condition defined as anterior resection syndrome. Autonomic denervation could be one of the possible mechanisms underlying this complication. Damage to the preaortic tissue containing autonomic nervous plexus during abdominal aortic reconstruction surgery may affect the anorectal defecation function.


METHODS
The anorectal function was prospectively studied in 22 patients undergoing abdominal aortic reconstruction surgery. The patients were examined preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively by symptom-specific questionnaires.


RESULTS
Postoperatively, the patients showed no significant impairment of the anorectal functions in both constipation- and fecal incontinence-specific questionnaires. Self-estimation of the defecatory function was slightly lower compared with preoperative scores.


CONCLUSIONS
An injury to the intermesenteric, inferior mesenteric, and superior hypogastric plexuses does not significantly influence the defecatory functions in patients following abdominal reconstruction surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Dobrowolski
Sebastian
S
Department of General, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Municipal Hospital in Gdańsk, Medical University of Gdańsk, Debinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland.
Wojciechowski
Jacek
J
Dobosz
Marek
M
Hać
Stanisław
S
Sledziński
Zbigniew
Z
D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007001:Hypogastric Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012007:Rectum / Q000294:innervation; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000209:etiology