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Background: On May 6, 1887 at a meeting of the West London Medico-Chirurgical Society, original observations attributed to D. H. Goodsall described an association between the secondary (external) sinus opening and the location of the primary (internal) opening of an anal fistula: posterior external sinuses had a midline origin and anterior external sinuses took a straight path to their internal origin—eponymously known as Goodsall's Rule. However, over the last century, published reports support the midline as the primary (internal) origin of all anal fistulas, thus challenging the predictive accuracy of Goodsall's Rule and prompting this expansive review. Methods: A literature search was performed for studies describing the relationship between the secondary (external) opening and the primary (internal) opening of anal fistulas, including recent reports of the positive predictive value (PPV) of Goodsall's Rule. The studies were evaluated to determine the validity of Goodsall's observations. Results: The midline was the dominant, primary (internal) opening site of all anal fistulas with up to 95% accuracy. Goodsall's Rule was inaccurate when applied to anal fistulas with an anterior off-midline external sinus opening which tend to mirror posterior off-midline external sinuses and curve to a midline origin, rather than take a straight course to a primary (internal) opening, as predicted by Goodsall. Use of the Midline Rule had superior predictive accuracy, reflected in an increase in overall PPV of the location of the primary (internal) origin from 49% using Goodsall's Rule to 71% using the Midline Rule (57–62% for men, 31–90% for women). Conclusions: Goodsall's Rule falls short in predicting the natural course of anal fistulas with an anterior off-midline external sinus opening, especially for women. Given the increased risk of fecal incontinence related to surgical intervention for anterior-based anal fistulas, especially in women, dependence on Goodsall's Rule to guide the surgeon may result in "disastrous consequences". The preponderance of evidence over the last century favors the Midline Rule as a more accurate predictor of the true and natural course of anal fistulas, regardless of the location of the external sinus opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ASCRS business meeting saw the transition from outgoing ASCRS President Dr. Conor Delaney to current ASCRS President (2023-24) Dr Matthew Mutch (Fig. The 2023 ASCRS Presidential Address "Teams, healthcare and the importance of value" was introduced by Dr. Bradley Champagne (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) and delivered by ASCRS President Dr. Conor Delaney. The Harry E. Bacon Lectureship, "Patient experience: It's not about happiness" was introduced by ASCRS President Dr. Conor Delaney and delivered by Dr. James Merlino (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH). [Extracted from the article]

The commentary begins with, "I firmly believe that hardly any contemporary surgeon proceeds to operate on an anal fistula merely after predicting the course of the fistula with Goodsall's Rule". However, the reality is that most anal fistula operations in the United States are performed by non-specialist surgeons (e.g. general surgeons). No, to the contrary, Goodsall's rule must be scrapped and replaced with something that's not only more accurate in predicting the course of anal fistulas, but easier to remember for the student, resident and practicing surgeon alike - the Midline rule. [Extracted from the article]

Background: This study determines the pattern of fluoroscopy use during colonoscopy among a group of gastroenterologists and colon and rectal surgeons who have it readily available for each patient. Methods: One thousand three hundred fifty-seven consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopic examination were studied over a 16-month period. Results: Fluoroscopy was used during 34% of colonoscopic examinations. The frequency of fluoroscopy use was significantly higher for women (41% vs 28%, p < 0.001). Fluoroscopy was most commonly used to precisely locate the colonoscope tip (45%) or during manipulation of troublesome loops of colon (42%), thus accounting for 87% of 677 fluoroscopic checks. The most common location of the colonoscope tip during these fluoroscopic checks was the hepatic flexure (23%) followed by the cecum (20%); 51% involved the right colon. The selective use of fluoroscopy during the more difficult cases was substantiated by the longer procedure time (36 vs 26 min) and significantly lower cecal intubation rate (74% vs 96%, p < 0.002) when fluoroscopy was required. Fluoroscopy also proved to be valuable when precisely locating pathology and teaching colonoscope intubation techniques. Conclusions: Endoscopists who have fluoroscopy readily available often use it during difficult colonoscopic examinations. Fluoroscopy is most commonly used to maneuver troublesome loops of colon or to precisely locate colonoscope tip position, especially when negotiating the right colon. Although this technology is more frequently required for women, fluoroscopic capability for all colonoscopic examinations is advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: (ASCRS) took place on June 1-5, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Graph: Fig. 1ASCRS immediate Past President (2018-2019) David A. Margolin (right) hands off the ASCRS President's Medallion and accepts a plaque of commendation from current ASCRS President (2019-2020) Tracy L. Hull (left) to conclude the 2019 ASCRS business meeting The 2020 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting will be held June 6-10, 2020 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts Online abstract submission for the 2020 meeting may be accessed via the ASCRS website (http://www.fascrs.org) with abstract submissions closed on December 2, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Describes a technique for avoiding slow-transit constipation associated with radical hysterectomy. Analysis of how the surgical procedure affects the process of defecation; Determination of how the technique executed after the defects are identified.

Confirming colonoscopic intubation of the cecum can be a laborious, time-consuming, and often frustrating endeavor. Anatomic landmarks may offer visual clues of cecal intubation, but the predictability of this evidence is unclear. The presence of three cecal landmarks, alone and in combination, were evaluated to precisely define their reliability. Between February and October of 1991, 601 of 708 (85%) consecutive colonoscopic examinations were able to be completed to the cecum as confirmed by fluoroscopy. All three cecal landmarks studied were present in 64% (386/601), two cecal landmarks in 32% (189/601), and one cecal landmark in 4% (26/601) of the patients. Therefore, at least two cecal landmarks were identified in 96% (575/601) of the patients. The ileocecal sphincter was identified in 98% (591/601) of patients overall, in 98% (185/189) of patients and 2 cecal landmarks, and in 77% (20/26) of patients with 1 cecal landmark. The appendiceal orifice was seen in 87% (524/601) of patients overall and in 72% (137/189) of patients with 2 cecal landmarks. Transillumination through the abdominal wall was possible in 74% (447/601) of patients overall and in 30% (56/189) of patients with 2 cecal landmarks. In summary, the ileocecal sphincter is the most reliable cecal landmark and is invariably visualized, even when all other landmarks are obscure. While other cecal landmarks, such as the appendiceal orifice and transillumination, are consistently identified, they are most valuable when found in association with the ileocecal sphincter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the patterns of fluoroscopy use during colonoscopy, 500 consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopic examination were studied over a 6-month period. The procedures were performed on 195 patients by three gastroenterologists and on 305 patients by three colon and rectal surgeons. The study group comprised 237 women and 263 men aged an average of 62 years (range, 12-90 years). The results revealed that fluoroscopy was used during 37% of colonoscopic examinations. The most common indications for fluoroscopy were the treatment of sigmoid loops (42%) and the localization of the colonoscope tip (51%), totaling 93% of 312 fluoroscopic checks. The suspected position of the colonoscope tip was inaccurate in 15% (47/312) of fluoroscopic checks. The most common bowel location of the colonoscope tip during the fluoroscopic checks was the hepatic flexure (24%), followed by the cecum (21%). In all, 53% (166/312) of fluoroscopic checks involved the right colon. The selective use of fluoroscopy during more difficult cases was emphasized by the significantly longer time required for the procedure (36 vs 26 min) and the significantly lower cecal intubation rate (79% vs 99%). In summary, fluoroscopy is deemed to be a safe, reliable technique that facilitates the completion of difficult colonoscopic examinations. It is especially helpful in the treatment of sigmoid loops and in the precise localization of the position of the colonoscope tip, especially during negotiation of the right colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]