Urinary retention on an acute geriatric hospitalisation unit: prevalence, risk factors and the role of screening, an observational cohort study

Purpose Urinary retention (UR) is common in older patients. The aim of this observational cohort study was to measure the prevalence of UR in patients aged ≥ 75 years on admission to an acute geriatric hospitalisation unit and to determine which at risk group would benefit from screening. Methods Post-void residual volumes (PVR) were measured within 3 days of admission with an ultrasound bladder scan. Uni- and multivariable analysis were used to determine risk factors associated with PVR ≥ 150 and ≥ 300 millilitres. Results Ninety-four patients, mean age 84.6 years, were included. The male/female ratio was 0.7. Patients with PVR ≥ 150 (29.8%) had more urological comorbidities, symptoms of overflow incontinence, voiding difficulties, subtotal voiding, faecal impaction, urinary tract infection (UTI) and were more frequently referred because of urinary symptoms. Patients with PVR ≥ 300 lived less at home, had more urological comorbidities, dysuria, voiding difficulties, subtotal voiding, constipation, faecal impaction, UTI, detrusor relaxants, and were more frequently referred because of urinary symptoms. Voiding difficulties and referral because of urinary symptoms were independently associated with PVR ≥ 150. Not living at home, reporting subtotal voiding, constipation, and referral because of urinary symptoms were independently associated with PVR ≥ 300. Conclusion Screening for UR on admission to an acute geriatric hospitalisation unit is most indicated in patients with urinary and defaecation problems. However, because the prevalence was high, because UR was also observed in patients without these problems, and history taking may be difficult, the threshold for PVR measurement in acutely ill geriatric patients should be low. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NTC04715971, January 19, 2021 (retrospectively registered).

Anemia normocitica e dosaggio degli ormoni tiroidei

The paper describes the case of an 11-year-old girl presenting with normocytic hyporegenerative anaemia associated with increase of transaminases, CK and LDH. On physical exam skin pallor, mask-like facies and dry skin were observed; weight and height were below the third percentile for age and sex. Abdomen ultrasound (US) was significant for faecal impaction, but excluded an abdominal neoplasia. Lab tests showed persistency of normocytic anaemia while B12 and folate dosage, haemoglobin electrophoresis and DEB test were normal. However, a screening of thyroid function showed an abnormally high TSH and undetectable fT4 and fT3. Dosing of specific antibodies and thyroid US led to diagnosis of Hashimoto thyroiditis. Normocytic anaemia among paediatric patients cannot only be related to medullary aplasia, but also to chronic diseases and endocrinological disorders that should be adequately investigated. If the diagnosis still remains elusive, the execution of a bone marrow is mandatory.

18 The Use of A Multifactorial Intervention to Improve Bowel Chart Recording and Laxative Prescription in A Tertiary Geriatrics Department

Introduction Constipation has a high prevalence of 30-40% in those aged over 65. It can lead to complications including delirium, faecal impaction, stercoral ulceration, and bowel obstruction. Although stool charts are used in geriatric wards to monitor bowel movements to guide management of constipation, they are often inconsistently recorded. Similarly, regular laxatives are often not prescribed for constipated patients due to ward pressures or unawareness regarding their importance. Aims Our aims were to audit the rates of recording on stool charts and laxative prescription in a geriatrics department, and to assess whether a multifactorial intervention aimed at both doctors and nursing staff improved these rates. Methods Two independent assessors audited the recording of stool charts, and rates of constipating medications and laxative prescription in two geriatrics wards in a tertiary UK hospital. A multifactorial intervention was implemented, consisting of didactic sessions for doctors and nurses, healthcare assistant champions to promote the recording of stool charts, and consolidation of bowel movement recording onto a single paper stool chart by the bedside rather than multiple charts. After the intervention, the data was re-audited on the same wards. Descriptive statistics and frequency tabulation were used for data analysis. Results Data was collected from 33 patients. Pre-intervention, stool charts were recorded daily in 13 patients, 10 patients had no stool chart record, 20 patients were on at least one constipating medication, 12 patients were prescribed at least one laxative, and 5 out of 7 patients with opiates had laxatives co-prescribed. Post-intervention, stool charts were recorded daily in 21 patients, all patients had a stool chart record, 20 patients were on at least one constipating medication, 23 patients were prescribed at least one laxative, and 2 out of 4 patients with opiates had laxatives co-prescribed. Our intervention improved daily recording on stool charts by 24%, resulted in all patients having a current stool chart and improved prescription of regular laxatives by 34%. Conclusions A multifactorial intervention based on educational sessions, healthcare assistants acting as champions, and consolidation of recording of bowel movements into a single chart, improved stool chart recording and prescription of regular laxatives in a tertiary geriatrics department. Future auditing will extend the sample size and generalise the intervention to other hospital departments.

Bladder and bowels

Urinary incontinence is not an inevitable consequence of ageing and its impact on social, psychological, and physical well-being is comparable to that of other chronic conditions such as diabetes and dementia. Meanwhile, constipation, including symptoms of evacuation difficulty and/or fewer bowel movements, is a common problem as people age. Risk factors include problems in cognition, mobility, gastrointestinal motility, dysautonomia, anorectal dysfunction, and disabling neurologic disorders. Faecal incontinence is more common in frail individuals but is often assessed inadequately. The cause is often multifactorial. Treatment depends on the cause: a combination of approaches may be necessary, including avoidance of faecal impaction, instigation of a structured bowel care plan including regular prompted toileting, dietary modification, and (in some cases) use of loperamide or similar medications.

TRANSANAL HAEMORRHOIDAL DEARTERIALIZATION WITH MUCOPEXY (THD-M) FOR TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS: IS IT APPLICABLE IN ALL GRADES? BRAZILIAN MULTICENTER STUDY

ABSTRACT Background: Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy (THD-M) is a valuable option for treating patients with haemorrhoidal disease. However, there is still controversy with regard to its efficacy for more advanced grades. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of THD-M technique for treating hemorrhoidal disease and to compare the immediate and late results in different grades. Method: Seven hundred and five consecutive patients with Goligher’s grade II, III or IV symptomatic haemorrhoids underwent surgical treatment using the THD-M method in five participating centres. Six well-trained and experienced surgeons operated on the patients. Average follow-up was 21 months (12-48). Results: Intraoperative complications were observed in 1.1% of cases, including four cases of haematoma, two of laceration of the mucosa, and two of bleeding. All of these were controlled by means of haemostatic suturing. In relation to postoperative complications, the most common of these were as follows: transitory tenesmus (21.4%); pain (7.2%); mucosal or haemorrhoidal prolapse (6.4%); residual skin tag (5.6%); faecal impaction (3.2%); haemorrhoidal thrombosis (2.8%); bleeding (2.1%); anal fissure (0.7%); and anal abscess (0.3%). Most of the complications were treated conservatively, and only 7.5% (53/705) required some type of surgical approach. There was no mortality or any severe complications. The recurrence of prolapse and bleeding was greater in patients with grade IV haemorrhoidal disease than in those with grade III and II (26.54% and 7.96% vs. 2.31% and 0.92% vs. 2.5% and 1.25%), respectively. Conclusion: The THD-M method is safe and effective for haemorrhoidal disease grades II and III with low rates of surgical complications. However, for grade IV hemorrhoids, it is associated with higher recurrence of prolapse and bleeding. So, THD-M method should not be considered as an effective option for the treatment of grade IV hemorrhoids.

Constipation and faecal incontinence

Constipation and faecal incontinence are the two main functional digestive disorders reported by old people. Prevalence increases with age and predominantly affects women. Both are associated with poorer quality of life. Clinical assessment of constipation including a detailed history is the best approach to identify features suggesting abnormal transit or evacuation problems. As for many geriatric syndromes, medication related effects should always be considered. Faecal incontinence is a marker of disability assessed by most activities of daily living (ADL) scales. In severe cases, faecal incontinence is also associated with high mortality rates. The main risk factor for transient faecal incontinence is the coexistence of a functional digestive disorder such as constipation (especially with faecal impaction) or diarrhoea. These two conditions must be identified since they can be improved by specific therapeutic programmes, which are usually multidimensional and multiprofessional.