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Evacuatory Dysfunction Following Gynecologic Surgery

  • Chapter
Complex Anorectal Disorders

Summary

Rather than considering it a loose association of independently functioning organs, the pelvis should be looked upon as an organ system unto itself, composed of subdivisions that rely on each other for normal function. The anterior and posterior compartments share a common nervous system and provide structural support for each other. Therefore, it is easy to see that surgical treatment of one subdivision may have functional impact on the others. In this chapter, we have discussed how radical hysterectomy has been associated with alterations in anorectal function, although an adequate and comprehensive explanation for these findings is currently lacking. Persistent evacuation symptoms may follow surgery for vaginal support defects if there was an incomplete assessment of the pelvic floor before surgery. Similarly, fecal incontinence may persist following repair of a rectovaginal fistula if one did not assess the anal sphincter preoperatively. A multidisciplinary approach to pelvic floor problems is truly required in order to optimize patient care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides MD

  2. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA

    Linda Brubaker MD

Authors
  1. Theodore J. Saclarides MD
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  2. Linda Brubaker MD
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© 2005 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Saclarides, T.J., Brubaker, L. (2005). Evacuatory Dysfunction Following Gynecologic Surgery. In: Complex Anorectal Disorders. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-057-5_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-057-5_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-690-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-057-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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