Aim: To investigate the changes of postoperative anal sphincter function and bowel frequency in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
Methods: A total of 127 patients with UC who underwent restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) during 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters of anal manometry and bowel frequency were compared according to the 6-mo intervals until 24 mo postoperatively. Manometry was used to measure the maximal squeezing pressure (MSP) and maximal resting pressure (MRP).
Results: MSP decreased after surgery until 6 mo (157 to 142 mmHg); thereafter, it improved and was recovered to and maintained at the preoperative value at 12 mo postoperatively (142-170 mmHg, P < 0.001). Although the decreased MRP (65 to 56 mmHg) improved after 18 mo (62 mmHg), it did not completely recover to the preoperative value. The decreased rectal capacity after surgery (90 to 82 mL) gradually increased up to 150 mL at 24 mo. Although bowel frequency showed significant gradual decreases at each interval, it was stabilized after 12 mo postoperatively (6.5 times/d).
Conclusion: Postoperative changes of manometry and bowel frequency after restorative proctocolectomy in Korean patients with UC were not different from those in Western patients with UC.
Keywords: Bowel frequency; Manometry; Restorative proctocolectomy; Surgery; Treatment outcome; Ulcerative colitis.