Total anorectal reconstruction by double graciloplasty: experience with delayed, selective use of implantable pulse generators

This study reports our experience with total anorectal reconstruction (TAR), supported at a later phase, whenever necessary, by an implantable pulse generator. Thirteen patients underwent total anorectal reconstruction by double graciloplasty, diverting loop colostomy, and implantation of temporary electrodes. External-source, short-term, intermittent electrostimulation and biofeedback were used for neosphincter voluntary control training. After abdominal stoma closure, 6 months after initial surgery in disease-free patients, functional results were evaluated by a scoring system and anomanometry A pulse generator was implanted whenever continence was judged unsatisfactory. After continuous electrostimulation training, neosphincter function was reassessed. Major graciloplasty complications (partial muscle necrosis and perineal colostomy necrosis) were treated successfully by surgery. One death of myocardial infarction occurred after discharge. Three patients refused further surgery. One patient did not undergo abdominal stoma closure because of early hepatic metastases. Functional evaluation after closure (eight patients) showed the following results: two "excellent" (no pulse generator implanted), three "good" (two stimulator implantations, with an "excellent" result), two "fair", and one "poor" (3 implantations, with a "good" result). In addition to improving clinical results (P=0.042), resting anal pressures were also increased significantly by active an implantable pulse generator (P=0.043). Although stimulators, whenever implanted, improved the neosphincter function, delayed, selective use of these in some cases rendered an implantable pulse generator either unnecessary from a functional viewpoint or redundant because of cancer recurrence or infectious complications. Drawbacks to the procedure were poor patient complicance to neosphincter training and to multiple surgical procedures, and excessive wasting of human resources during training for intermittent electrostimulation and biofeedback.