Related Experiment Videos
Influence of Parks' anal retractor on anal sphincter pressures
W F van Tets1, J H Kuijpers, K Tran
1The Department of Surgery, Lukas-Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
The effects of the Parks' anal retractor on anal sphincter function were studied in a prospective, randomized trial. A closed hemorrhoidectomy was performed intra-anally in 20 patients using the Parks' anal retractor; in 20 other patients, the procedure was done perineally without the use of a retractor.
Methods:
Anal manometry was performed before and at 6 and 12 weeks after hemorrhoidectomy.
Results:
Mean squeeze pressure decreased by 4 percent whether or not a retractor was used. Mean resting pressure decreased by 23 percent after use of Parks' anal retractor (P = 0.01) compared with 8 percent when it was not used (P > 0,05).
Conclusions:
The internal anal sphincter is easily damaged with the use of the Parks' anal retractor. When possible, its use should be avoided to obtain better manometric and functional results.