Abstract

CARRASCO-ARRONIZ, Miguel Ángel; JIMENEZ-BOBADILLA, Billy; CRUZ-PALACIOS, Aracely  and  VILLANUEVA-HERRERO, Juan Antonio. Clinical characteristics associated to fecal ''soiling'' in patients subjected to anal surgeries. Cir. gen [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.4, pp.232-236. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics related to soiling present in patients subjected to anal surgery due to hemorrhoidal disease, fistula, anal fissure, and abscess drainage. Setting: Coloproctology unit of the Gastroenterology Service of the General Hospital of Mexico ''Dr. Eduardo Liceaga''. Design: Cases and controls study. Statistical analysis: Central tendency measures, Student's t test, odds ratio (OR) and non-parametric analysis using χ². Patients and methods: We applied an eight-item questionnaire to 132 patients that came to the out-patient consultation of our unit. Soiling of underwear, anal erythema, scar, pruritus, use of material to protect the anal region, change in feeding habits, presence of fecal matter in the anus, and cleaning of the anal region without having defecated were the assessed variables and these were compared between operated and non-operated patients. Results: We included 59 men and 73 women, average age of 45 years, 58 operated and 74 non-operated. Soiling of underwear was the most frequent sign in operated patients (37% versus 25%). The other variables with statistical significance when comparing both groups were: pruritus, presence of a scar and anal erythema. The OR for surgery in patients with underwear soiling was 3.22 (95% CI 1.57-6.60); for pruritus, 2.24 (95% CI 1.11-4.52) and presence of anal scar, 91.38 (95% CI 24.46-341.43). Conclusions: Soiling of underwear was found in at least one third of patients subjected to anal surgery. The presence of erythema, fecal matter in the anus, and an anal scar should lead to consider this alteration.

Keywords : Soiling; anal surgery; incontinence; fistula.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )