title: Current surgical treatment of obstructed defecation among selected European opinion leaders in pelvic floor surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to perform a survey on the surgical management of obstructed defecation (OD) across advocated selected coloproctological experts across Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgeons from 42 centers of coloproctology in Europe were asked to complete a questionnaire, including seven questions about their past and present operative treatment strategy for patients with OD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was completed by 32 experts of pelvic floor surgery in 13 European countries. All but one indicated that they consider surgical treatment for OD. Seventy-four percent of these have been using transanal stapled rectal resection (STARR) and 96 % transabdominal rectopexy. While only 65 %, who have begun performing STARR are still using transanal resection, the technique is still being used by all surgeons performing abdominal procedures. Rectopexy only, STARR only, or both approaches are offered by 52, 3, and 45 % of surgeons, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of STARR in the treatment of OD is decreasing among European opinion leaders in the field of pelvic floor surgery, while the application of transabdominal procedures continues.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France. kim_m@ukw.de.|Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany. kim_m@ukw.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meurette
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France.|Department of Surgery, Hospital Selayang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ragu
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lehur
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000601:surgery*; D066231:Surgeons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Constipation; Internal rectal prolapse; Obstructed defecation; Pelvic floor disorders; Rectocele; Surgical management