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Benign Colorectal Disease

  • Elisa H. Birnbaum
Chapter

Abstract

The incidence of benign medical and surgical diseases of the colon and rectum increases with age. Although constipation, fecal incontinence, and several other associated benign conditions increase in frequency with aging, a paucity of information exists regarding the normal aging effect on gastrointestinal pathophysiology. Studies documenting anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic changes that occur in the aging colon have not been definitive; and many studies have reported conflicting results. Mucosal atrophy, atrophy of circular muscles, thickening of longitudinal muscles (taeniae coli), increased elastin deposition, and atherosclerosis are several of the changes seen in the aging bowel.1 These changes may factor into the development of several disease states (i.e., diverticular disease and angiodysplasia). Myriad medications affect gastrointestinal function and many have constipation as a side effect. Preexisting diseases (cardiac, pulmonary, renal, neurologic, psychiatric) factor into the cause of several benign colorectal diseases, directly or secondarily, because of the medications used to treat the disease.

Keywords

Fecal Incontinence Anal Sphincter Outlet Obstruction Rectal Prolapse Pudendal Nerve 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2001

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  • Elisa H. Birnbaum

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