Electrophysiologic assessments in pudendal and sacral motor nerves after ileal J-pouch-anal anastomosis for patients with ulcerative colitis and adenomatosis coli.

PURPOSE: To clarify neurologic function with respect to external anal sphincter and puborectalis muscles after J configuration ileal J-pouch-anal anastomosis for patients with ulcerative colitis and adenomatosis coli, we examined the terminal motor latency in the pudendal and sacral motor nerve (S2-4).

METHODS

Latency of the response in the external anal sphincter muscle following digitally directed transrectal pudendal nerve stimulation (PNTML) and in the puborectalis muscle following transcutaneous magnetic stimulation of the cauda equina at the levels S2-4 (SMNLTSS) were measured in 12 patients with ileal J-pouch-anal anastomosis; they were divided into a group with continence (7 cases) and a group with soiling (5 cases). Results were compared with data obtained from 12 patients before operation and 15 controls.

RESULTS

Conduction delay of PNTML and SMNLTSS in patients with soiling was longest, followed by delay in those without any soiling, then delay in patients before operation, and then controls. In addition, significant differences were also noted between conduction delay of PNTML in controls and those who are incontinent and experience soiling (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and there were significant differences also noted between conduction delay of PNTML in patients before operation and those who are incontinent and experiencing soiling (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Conduction delay of PNTML and SMNLTSS were found in patients before operation rather than in controls. No significant differences were noted between conduction delay of PNTML and SMNLTSS in patients before operation and controls. Significant differences were also noted between conduction delay of PNTML and SMNLTSS in patients who are incontinent and experiencing soiling (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the hypothesis that soiling after this procedure may be partially caused by damage to pudendal and sacral motor nerves (S2-4).