Jorge Alberto Ortiz’s research while affiliated with Santa Casa de São Paulo and other places

Objective: to evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant therapy on the stage (TNM) of patients with rectal adenocarcinoma and validate the use of MRI as a method of determining locoregional stage. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of 157 patients with lower rectum adenocarcinoma, whom we divided into two groups: Group 1, 81 patients (52%) who had undergone surgical treatment initially, with the purpose to analyze the accuracy of locoregional staging by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging throug the comparison of radiological findings with pathological ones; Group 2, 76 patients (48%), who had been submitted to neoadjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and radiation) prior to definitive surgical treatment, so as to evaluate its effects on the stage by comparing clinical and radiological findings with pathology. Results: In group 1, the accuracy of determining tumor depth (T) and lymph node involvement (N) was 91.4% and 82.7%, respectively. In group 2, neoadjuvant therapy decreased the T stage, N stage and TNM stage in 51.3%, 21% and 48.4% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: neoadjuvant therapy in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma is effective in decreasing disease stage, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging is effective for locoregional staging.

The diagnosis of constipation is complicated due to the multiplicity and complexity of the causes. Regarding diagnostic tests, proctography is the best choice because it provides information on functions and visualization of abnormalities. Objective: To measure the isolated value of proctography in patients with obstructed defecation. Method: We evaluated 40 constipated patients at the Coloproctology Clinic of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. The test was performed by introducing 120 mL of barium contrast in the rectum and by analyzing the different stages of evacuation. Three x-rays were performed in the lateral position: rest, anal contraction and evacuation. Results: The diagnoses were: rectocele: 2 (5.0%); anismus: 8 (20.0%); perineal descent: 13 (32.5%); sigmoidocele: 6 (15.0%); internal invagination: 10 (25.0%); rectocele + sigmoidocele 9 (22.5%); rectocele + internal invagination 11 (27.5%); rectocele + anismus: 18 (45.0%). Several patients presented multiple disorders. Conclusion: Constipation by obstructed defecation depends on multiple factors and it is important to have an accurate diagnosis. Proctography is essential, but insufficient as a single procedure. The other tests contribute with the diagnosis, therefore, they should be included in the investigation.

Introduction: Evacuatories disturbances are described in the literature related to vaginal delivery and episiotomy. Objective: To study the incidence of evacuatories disturbances in primiparous undergoing episiotomy during vaginal delivery. Methods: Prospective study in 32 primiparous patients submitted to episotomy during vaginal delivery. For the study the patients answered in relation to the period before pregnancy and 90 days postpartum questionnaires with the score of Agachan constipation and incontinence score of Jorge and Wexner. Results: No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the results from the questionnaires in relation to the period before pregnancy and 90 days postpartum. Conclusions: Episiotomy in vaginal delivery in primiparous women with no prior history of intestinal symptoms, caused no disorders of anal continence postpartum in the pacients of this study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic constipation is a common childhood disorder that affects 5 to 10% of pediatric patients, being the second most common cause for seeking medical help, with the encopresis arising out of severe constipation being associated with fecal impaction in the rectum. Among diagnostic exams, anal manometry is used to evaluate patients with functional disorders such as constipation and fecal incontinence, and in some procedures for the evaluation of patients suffering from encopresis, as it provides information on the defecation mechanism and any potential anal sphincter injuries. OBJECTIVE: To verify manometric alterations in patients with encopresis. METHODS: A study was conducted based on 40 anal manometries of constipated children with encopresis (G1) and 12 constipated children without encopresis (G2). The following data were obtained: pressure at rest, contraction and evacuation of the anal canal and the rectal ampulla, point of highest pressure, anal inhibitory reflex and rectal sensitivity. The manometries were performed with an 8-channel perfusion device manufactured by Alacer. DISCUSSION: No differences were found with respect for pressures at rest, contraction and evacuation of the anal canal between groups. Our attention was drawn to the lack of need for an increased rectal volume to trigger the anal inhibitory reflex. There was no difference in the incidence of anismus between groups, which shows that it is not a relevant factor in the maintenance of the encopresis, but of constipation. CONCLUSION: An increase in rectal volume was not required to trigger the anal inhibitory reflex. Anismus was not different in the two groups, being unimportant in the maintenance of encopresis.

Amongst the causes of outlet obstruction, the anismus is most frequent and its diagnosis is made more frequently through electromyografy, considered as optimum examination for this diagnosis. The objective of this work is to verify the influence of anismus in the examinations of anal physiology. For this work 40 patients with diagnosis of outlet obstruction were separate in two groups had been studied: with and without anismus. All of the patients were submitted to manometric exams, rectal sensibility, electromyography, pudendal latency and defecography with the purpose of serving which ones exams would be important in the presence or not of the anismus. We didn´t observe differences between the two groups in relation to the carried through examinations, except in the electromyography that is considered standard gold and in the angle retal year in the defecography where in the patients with anismus it was significantly lesser. CONCLUSION: the presence of anismus intervened with the results of the examinations of anal physiology only in the electromyography, considered standard gold for this diagnosis.