Diseases of the colon and rectum
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The natural history of sigmoid diverticulitis in terms of the virulence and management in young patients is an ongoing controversy. This retrospective study was designed to assess the severity and early management of acute diverticulitis according to age. ⋯ Diverticulitis in patients younger than aged 40 years seems to have a particularly aggressive and fulminant course and requires early surgical procedures for complications (associated abscess, colonic perforation) in 40 percent of cases. The use of "major procedure" (i.e., stoma) is more frequent in these patients.
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Pudendal neuropathy and fecal incontinence frequently coexist; however, the contribution of neuropathy is unknown. The pudendal nerve innervates the external anal sphincter muscle, anal canal skin, and coordinates reflex pathways. Lateral dominance or a dominantly innervating nerve and its subsequent damage may have major implications in the etiology and treatment of fecal incontinence. This study was designed to establish the prevalence of pudendal neuropathy, in particular a unilateral one, and to examine the impact on anorectal function. ⋯ Unilateral pudendal neuropathy is a common abnormality in individuals with fecal incontinence and is significantly associated with both attenuated resting pressures and squeeze increments. Although there are limitations in the interpretation of pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies, this study demonstrates that further exploration of the concept of lateral dominance is needed.