Sigmoid motility and clinical results after transverse taeniamyotomy for diverticular disease

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the effect of multiple transverse taeniamyotomy on sigmoid motility and on the clinical picture of 8 patients affected by symptomatic, uncomplicated diverticular disease of the sigmoid, selected for the operation after the failure of medical therapy. We recorded rectosigmoid intraluminal pressures and the manometric tracings were correlated with the corresponding photofluorograms before and after the operation for 1 year. Motility indices were computed and a significant decrease after meals and Prostigmin was found in patients who underwent transverse taeniamyotomy. These functional changes were accompanied by a marked clinical recovery, expressed in terms of relief from lower abdominal pain and improvement in bowel movements. Considering the functional and clinical disadvantages reported after colectomy and longitudinal myotomy, and observing our results after transverse taeniamyotomy, even though they are short term results, we conclude that the latter operation is an effective procedure for the treatment of diverticular disease with muscular hypertrophy and high intracolonic pressure which has not responded to a medical and dietetic regimen.