[The mucosal electrosensitivity of the anal canal following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis]

The aim of this study was to investigate the mucosal electrosensitivity of the anus in 23 patients following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. In 16 cases mechanical anastomosis was performed 2 cm above the pectineal line conserving the transitional anal mucosa and in 7 cases distal rectal mucosectomy and manual anastomosis was performed to the pectineal line. In these patients and in those of the control group of 21 patients without previous anorectal disease, the threshold of sensitivity of the lower, middle and upper anus segment was determined. A clinical questionnaire was made in the patients with ileoanal reservoir to evaluate the existence of alterations in continence, and in the capacity to discriminate between gases and stools. The sensitivity thresholds obtained were significantly higher than those in the control group. A significantly greater sensitivity threshold (p = 0.01) was found in the upper anus segment in patients with mucosectomy (median 18.5 mA) with respect to the patients with mechanical anastomosis (median 11 mA). A significantly greater threshold was also observed (p = 0.03) globally in the patients with some alteration in continence (median 15 mA; 57.1% mucosectomy and 18.8% mechanical anastomosis) with respect to completely continent patients (median 11 mA). The results demonstrate the importance of conserving the transitional anal mucosa during surgery with the aim of improving the functional results during the follow of the functioning ileoanal reservoir.