Published online Aug 21, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i31.5780
Peer-review started: April 9, 2017
First decision: April 26, 2017
Revised: May 7, 2017
Accepted: July 22, 2017
Article in press: July 24, 2017
Published online: August 21, 2017
Processing time: 139 Days and 23.5 Hours
To investigate the changes of postoperative anal sphincter function and bowel frequency in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
A total of 127 patients with UC who underwent restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) during 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters of anal manometry and bowel frequency were compared according to the 6-mo intervals until 24 mo postoperatively. Manometry was used to measure the maximal squeezing pressure (MSP) and maximal resting pressure (MRP).
MSP decreased after surgery until 6 mo (157 to 142 mmHg); thereafter, it improved and was recovered to and maintained at the preoperative value at 12 mo postoperatively (142-170 mmHg, P < 0.001). Although the decreased MRP (65 to 56 mmHg) improved after 18 mo (62 mmHg), it did not completely recover to the preoperative value. The decreased rectal capacity after surgery (90 to 82 mL) gradually increased up to 150 mL at 24 mo. Although bowel frequency showed significant gradual decreases at each interval, it was stabilized after 12 mo postoperatively (6.5 times/d).
Postoperative changes of manometry and bowel frequency after restorative proctocolectomy in Korean patients with UC were not different from those in Western patients with UC.
Core tip: Although there has been an increase in the prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and the numbers of UC surgery in Asian countries, studies on the functional outcomes of restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) or the quality of life in Asians are still deficient. Most UC studies on functional outcomes were done in Westerners. The authors found that maximal squeezing pressure, rectal capacity, and bowel frequency were stabilized at 12 mo after RPC. Although the decreased MRP was improved after 18 mo, it did not completely recover to the preoperative value. These findings in Korean patients with UC were not different from those in Western patients with UC.