What is diverticular disease? Diverticular disease refers to the little pockets or pouches that form in the bowel usually from the weakening of the bowel wall. This condition is mainly seen in the sigmoid colon (large bowel on the left side). This condition is very common in Australia and commonly found incidentally during a routine […]
There are three groups of pelvic floor problems: 1. Urinary incontinence related to bladder dysfunction 2. Faecal incontinence related to dysfunction of the anal canal, the rectum or both. 3. Pelvic Organ Prolapse can be related to the prolapse of either bladder, vagina, uterus, the rectum or both. Patients can be present with symptoms related […]
Haemorrhoids are normal part of our anal canal anatomy, we all have them. They act as a cushion in our anal canal and help us with fine continence, e.g. when you cough, they get filled up with blood and help make the anal canal wind and water tight. Haemorrhoids are only abnormal if they cause […]
Symptoms from haemorrhoids or piles are one of the most common anorectal disorders in colorectal practice. It is estimated that more than 50% of the population will at some stage in their life experience symptoms from haemorrhoids. Although haemorrhoidectomy (simple excision) is one of the most effective surgical treatments available for high grade haemorrhoids it […]
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/faecal-incontinence-and-world-first-non-identical-organ-swap/11268068 Listen here to Dr Naseem talking about faecal incontinence on radio national with James Bulleen
Age and parity highest risk for pelvic floor dysfunction – 10% at age 40 and 50% by age 80 with at least one pelvic floor symptoms – Pregnancy effect on pelvic floor: hormononal effect + weight of the fetus, upto 6 weeks postpartum can have some degree of prolapse due to pelvic floor ligamental relaxation […]
At a recent colorectal journal club in Melbourne (photo below) , I realised how there is still a significant gender gap in Colorectal Surgery. As women colorectal surgeons, we are in a unique position to mitigate the embarrassment faced by most women when presenting with anorectal symptoms. My patients often remind me about how lucky […]
A hernia is a condition where part of one’s internal structures protrudes through a defect or weakening in the surface of our body. A hernia can be in the groin, the abdominal wall, e.g. umbilical, a prior scar, e.g. appendicectomy scar or Caesarian scars etc. A hernia may give you no symptoms, or you may […]
Last year, my colleagues and I published a review article in Australian Journal of General Practice about current Australian guidelines on screening patients with no symptoms of bowel cancer which happen to have a family history of bowel cancer. I have attached a copy of the article, which is available to download for free. The […]
In this study, the authors looked at the functional brain MRI images of patients with faecal incontinence and compared them to healthy individuals. When the rectum in these individuals was stimulated, the response observed in the brain was somewhat different to that seen in healthy individuals. This suggests that the brain-gut interaction plays an important […]
