Comparing the Outcomes of Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection, Delorme Operation and Electrotherapy Methods Used for the Treatment of Obstructive Defecation Syndrome

Background: Pathophysiology and treatment of obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS) remains to be defined clearly. Rectal hidden intussusceptions and voluminous hemorrhoids may be the cause. Where conservative treatment is not effective, ODS can be treated by STARR or Delorme operation. In some patients treatment of advance hemorrhoidal disease may resolve the syndrome. Methods: 81 females out of 183 ODS patients were selected for the treatment by Delorme, STARR or 30 mAmp electrotherapy. Results: The number of patients treated by STARR, Delorme and Electrotherapy were 34, 31 and 16, with mean postoperative pain ranking of 2.5, 3.7 and 1.5 and mean hospital stay of 2.3, and 3.2 and 1 day respectively. Mean ODS score, preoperatively compared with one-year post operation, improved from 14.5 to 5.1 (P=0.005) in STARR, 13.8 to 4.3 (P=0.006) in Delorme and 14.2 to 12.8 (P=0.725) in electrotherapy groups. The mean severity score (SS) changed from 14.2, 15.18 and 13.90 preoperatively to 3.8, 4.12 and 11.34 postoperatively in all groups respectively. The mean resting pressures decreased from 82 to 65 in STARR (P=0.006), from 87 to 63 in Delorme (P=0.005) and from 79 to 74 mmHg (P=0.797) in electrotherapy groups. Postoperative defecography showed significant reduction in the intussusception parameter in STARR and Delorme (82.4% and 88% respectively; P<0.0001), but unchanged in electrotherapy group. Conclusion: STARR and Delorme are effective modalities for the treatment of patients with ODS, while STARR is simpler, less invasive and less painful. Although, electrotherapy eradicates the voluminous hemorrhoids but is ineffective in the treatment of ODS.