Several organic and functional disorders of the urinary bladder, reproductive tract, anorectum, and the pelvic floor musculature cause pelvic pain. This article describes functional disorders in which chronic pelvic and…
Rectal prolapse is best diagnosed by physical examination and by having the patient strain as if to defecate; a laparoscopic rectopexy is the preferred treatment approach. Intussusception is more an…
Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are common benign anorectal conditions that form a significant part of a colorectal surgeon’s workload. This review summarizes and evaluates the current techniques available in their…
Patients with constipation and fecal incontinence usually come to the attention of the surgeon when conservative measures have failed to alleviate sufficiently severe symptoms. Following detailed clinical and physiologic assessment,…
Biofeedback as delivered in most clinical settings in Western medicine has been consistently reported to improve symptoms of fecal incontinence. Closer scrutiny of the elements of the intervention and controlled…
Constipation caused by dyssynergic defecation is common and affects up to one half of patients with this disorder. It is possible to diagnose this problem through history, prospective stool diaries,…
Several imaging modalities are available ranging from fluoroscopic techniques to ultrasonography and MRI for the evaluation of patients with pelvic floors disorders. High-resolution ultrasonography and MRI not only provide superior…
With advances in diagnostic technology, it is now accepted that in the field of functional bowel disorders, symptom-based assessment is unsatisfactory as the sole means of directing therapy. A robust…
Pelvic floor disorders including lower urinary tract dysfunction are common, and may be evaluated by urodynamic tests, such as cystometry, uroflowmetry, pressure flow studies, electromyography, and video-urodynamics. These urodynamic tests…
Pelvic floor muscles have two major functions: they provide support or act as a floor for the abdominal viscera including the rectum; and they provide a constrictor or continence mechanism…
