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Cineradiographic defaecography combined with measurement of the anorectal angle and descent of the pelvic floor is proposed. The method used in 73 women gave valuable information in 48 patients who complained of anal incompetence, rectal tenesmus, and chronic constipation. In these patients, high and low rectal intussusception, rectocele, and pathologic movement of the pelvic floor were detected. Some of these phenomena could only be diagnosed by the radiologic method here described. Quantitations of the anorectal angle and descent of the pelvic floor placed the group with constipation halfway between normal individuals and those with anal incompetence. The value of this finding is discussed. Recent improvements in anorectal surgery often make videodefaecography decisive for the choice of the optimal operative method. Therefore, videodefaecography together with measurement of the anorectal angle and pelvic floor descent is recommended whenever anorectal surgery for correction of functional disturbances is contemplated.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of iliac and femoral arteries was in 17 patients combined with selective intra-arterial streptokinase treatment. The patients were divided into two groups, one given low dose long-term therapy and the other high dose short-term therapy. The experiences obtained during an observation period of over one year revealed greater benefit from high dose short-term therapy. It seems that the major cause of complications must be attributed to the development of a high level of streptokinase antibodies during low dose long-term therapy.References

From a series of balloon dilatations of alimentary tract strictures 11 patients with different types of gastric and oesophagogastric anastomotic stenoses are reported. The dilatation of gastric outflow tract obstructions was highly effective in the treatment of retention. In 7 out of 8 cases with gastric outflow stenosis surgery could be entirely avoided and replaced by balloon dilatation. The importance of eliminating retention in the healing of gastric ulcer is discussed. Fistulation in oesophagogastric anastomoses due to stenosis of the outflow portion was successfully treated. The importance of achieving a free outflow tract in order to prevent insufficiency of the anastomosis and formation of a fistula is stressed.