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Pelvic floor injury diagnosis using 3-dimensional (3D) pelvic floor ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging is unfeasible in many clinics. We assessed the efficacy of a novel diagnostic parameter, the anal canal coronal-sagittal (CS) ratio, for pelvic floor injury on 2-dimensional [2D] transanal ultrasound.This retrospective study analyzed the data of 126 female patients who underwent 3D pelvic floor ultrasound (including 2D transanal ultrasound) at a pelvic floor center between August and December 2020. The anal canal CS ratio on 2D transanal ultrasound and pelvic floor avulsion injury measurements were recorded for all patients.A cutoff anal canal CS ratio of 1.15 was obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis (sensitivity, 0.820; specificity, 0.763; and area under the curve, 0.838). Patients were categorized into the anal canal CS ratio ≥1.15 and the anal canal CS ratio1.15 groups. Bilateral pelvic floor avulsion was more common in the anal canal CS ratio ≥1.15 group (n=35, 56.5%), and the incidence of pelvic floor avulsion was significantly different between the 2 groups (P=0.001). Existing parameters of pelvic floor injury, including minimal levator hiatus (P=0.001), levator plate descent angle (P=0.001), and levator ani deficiency score (P=0.001), were statistically different between the 2 groups.The anal canal CS ratio was an efficient novel parameter that indirectly detected pelvic floor injury in 2D transanal ultrasound. It is a potential alternative indicator for pelvic floor injury on the widely popular 2D transanal ultrasound.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether levator ani deficiency (LAD) scores and minimal levator hiatus (MLH) areas affect Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage.Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) at Seoul Songdo Hospital between August 2019 and August 2020. Three-dimensional (3D) pelvic floor ultrasound, preoperative anal manometry, and other physiological tests were performed in 78 patients with POP symptoms. We divided the patients into mild prolapse and severe prolapse groups based on the POP-Q. We examined the LAD and MLH areas. LAD scores were categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.Results: There were 32 patients (41.0%) in the mild prolapse group (POP-Q stage I and II) and 46 (59.0%) in the severe prolapse group (POP-Q stage III and IV). The mean LAD score was significantly higher in severe prolapse group (13.33±2.49 vs. 8.19±2.92, P

The levator plate descent angle (LPDA) quantifies the levator plate position with reference to the pubic bone and perineal body at rest. Unfortunately, research on this notable new parameter is lacking, but it is clear that levator ani deficiency (LAD) will undermine the fundamental role of the levator ani muscle (LAM) in organ support. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between the LPDA and LAD in patients with pelvic floor disorders. This retrospective study was conducted at Seoul Songdo Hospital, Korea between August 2019 and August 2020 on women with symptoms of pelvic floor disorder such as urinary incontinence, constipation, and fecal incontinence. In all cases, three-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasound was performed for LAD scoring, minimal levator hiatus, and LPDA evaluation. We evaluated LAD using a scoring system that graded levator injury according to the insertion point of each subdivision scored unilaterally. For the entire LAM group, a cumulative LAD score that ranged between 0 and 18 was possible. Scores were categorized as mild (0–6 points), moderate (7–12 points), and severe (13–18 points) deficiency A total of 93 patients were included in the study (mean age 65.89 ± 11.12 [range, 34–86] years). Thirteen participants had mild LAD scores (14.0%), 42 had moderate LAD scores (45.2%), and 38 had severe LAD scores (40.9%). There was a significant difference in mean age (59.23 ± 12.55 years vs. 64.43 ± 10.03 vs. 69.79 ± 10.55 years, p = 0.005) and mean parity (1.85 ± 0.90 vs 2.48 ± 1.15 vs 2.76 ± 1.10, p = 0.038) of patients between groups. There was also a significant difference in the mean Wexner incontinence score (7.14 ± 3.63 vs 7.24 ± 5.76 vs 11.41 ± 5.54, p = 0.028) and in the mean fecal incontinence quality of life (FIQOL) score (12.91 ± 3.11 vs 14.10 ± 3.87 vs 10.41 ± 3.65, p = 0.014). The mean value of the LPDA in the group with mild LAD scores was 14.65° (SD ± 3.54) and in the group with moderate LAD scores was 9.66° (SD ± 3.36). In the group with severe LAD scores, the mean LPDA was 1.83° (SD ± 4.71). The mean value for minimal levator hiatus (MLH) area in the mild LAD score group was 14.16cm2 (SD ± 2.72), that in the moderate LAD score group was 15.82cm2 (SD ± 2.30), and that in the severe LAD score group was 17.99cm2 (SD ± 2.81). There were significant differences between the three groups both in decreasing LPDA (p

Purpose: According to recent studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of complex fistulas provides a significant benefit compared to fistulography, computed tomography, and ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to describe the accuracy of MRI and the importance of identifying puborectalis muscle involvement on MRI in patients with complex fistula.Methods: All patients who were clinically diagnosed with ‘complex’ or showed multiple fistula tracts underwent fistula MRI. Eligible patients were consecutive patients who underwent fistula MRI between September 2018 and September 2019 at our hospital.Results: A total of 83 patients (74 males, 9 females; 116 tracts) were included in this study. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI in diagnosing fistula tracts were 94.8% and 98.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity in identifying internal opening were 93.9% and 97.3%, respectively. Of the 35 patients with puborectalis muscle involvement in the MRI, 31 images of suprasphincteric-type patients on the Park’s classification were classified. The patients of puborectalis involvement were divided into 2 groups according to the surgical procedure that was performed. There were 12 sphincter-saving procedures and 19 sphincter division procedures performed. Recurrence was seen in 2 patients in the sphincter-saving procedure group, while no case was seen in the sphincter division procedure group. Five complications were found in the sphincter division procedure group, of which 2 reported incontinence.Conclusion: Fistula MRI is a highly accurate examination for evaluating complex fistulas, and the puborectalis muscle involvement findings are very important for diagnosis and treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of delayed post-hemorrhoidectomy bleeding (DPHB) after hemorrhoidectomy using a semi-closed procedure. We also investigated risk factors associated with DPHB. This retrospective study enrolled a total of 1645 consecutive patients with symptomatic grade II to IV hemorrhoids who underwent a semi-closed procedure at the Seoul Songdo Hospital between September 2018 and May 2019. All patients underwent a semi-closed procedure with submucosal feeding vessel ligation, a method commonly performed at our institution. A total of 1645 patients (mean age: 48.67 (±14.38) years, 823 (50.0%) male/822 (50.0%) female) underwent semi-closed hemorrhoidectomy. Critically, 24 (1.5%) patients experienced DPHB. Of these patients, 13 (0.8%) experienced stump bleeding, whereas 11 (0.7%) experienced marginal bleeding. The mean bleeding period was 8.21±4.45 days. Multivariate analysis showed that male sex, drinking history, more than four hemorrhoid piles, and laxative agents were independent risk factors for DPHB. The risk of stump bleeding was significantly associated with male sex (OR=5.55, 95% CI 1.23-25.14, p=0.026), more than four hemorrhoid piles (OR=5.90, 95% CI 1.62-21.53, p=0.007), and laxative usage (OR=3.92, 95% CI 1.31-11.74, p=0.015). Conversely, the risk of marginal bleeding were significantly associated with drinking history (OR=10.48, 95% CI 1.34-82.03, p=0.025) and more than four hemorrhoid piles (OR=4.71, 95% CI 1.24-17.81, p=0.023). Male sex, drinking history, more than four hemorrhoid piles, and laxative usage were independent risk factors for DPHB in patients undergoing semi-closed hemorrhoidectomy. The risk factors for stump bleeding included male sex, more than four hemorrhoid piles, and laxative usage. In contrast, the risk factors for marginal bleeding were drinking history and more than four hemorrhoid piles.