Keywords:
Pelvic floor dysfunction, Defecography, MR, Pelvis
Authors:
S. Camisa, F. Calliada, I. Fulle, G. Ori Belometti; Pavia/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-2659
Purpose
To define a clinical-MR imaging follow-up protocol for patients after “Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection” (STARR) for surgical correction of rectocele and rectal prolapse conditioning Obstructed Defecation Syndrome (ODS) [1].
This follow-up protocol involves patients 6-12 months after STARR surgery,
and includes a first clinical approach,
in order to investigate symptoms in post-operative period,
and then an objective imaging evaluation by MR-defecography.
In fact,
if there are specific selection criteria for patients undergoing to STARR surgery,
a monitoring post-operative protocol isn’t yet approved.
The presented follow-up,
by comparing clinical symptoms and MRI features,
notices in particular patients without correlation between reported symptoms and MRI,
and patients with an early relapse of rectocele disease: for each type it is proposed a specific short and long-term monitoring.
This protocol also emphasizes the role of MR-defecography,
such as panoramic and multiplanar examination,
in the assessment of pelvic floor dysfunctions [2].