Common Conditions

Causes for Faecal incontinence Faecal incontinence occurs in significant numbers in the elderly. This can be related to poor mobility and dementia illness. The condition can occur in young women after sphincter injury related to child birth. This can lead on from tearing or sometimes poorly placed episiotomies during the delivery time. The sphincter weakness […]

This is a common condition in our community (affecting over 50% of those over 60 years old). The colon develops weak areas in its wall which form diverticula or pockets. The sigmoid colon is the area most frequently affected and is the site of most complications. The cause has been attributed to a chronic low

A rectocele is a weakness in the tissues of the anterior wall of the rectum and the posterior wall of the vagina and its intervening tissues. The rectal wall may bulge into the vagina particularly with straining. Cystocele (bladder bulging into vagina), enterocele (bowel bulging into vagina), uterine prolapse can be associated conditions. Symptoms and

Rectal prolapse is a condition that involves the rectum turning inside out on itself and coming out through the anus. Full-thickness rectal prolapse involves the whole wall of the bowel turning inside out on itself, partial thickness involves the inner lining only. Symptoms: The prolapse produces an uncomfortable lump through which is red-purple. The lump

Anal Incontinence The incidence of anal incontinence is generally felt to be higher than surveys reveal and may affect in excess of 5% of the elderly population. Loss of control of flatus and liquid or solid faeces is the key symptom but also the frequency of this control loss is important in planning treatment. Associated

A anal fistula is a track connecting the internal anal canal to the skin surrounding the anal orifice. This is due to infection usually of the glands lining the anal canal which if infected becomes trapped and burrows its way to the anal skin forming a fistula, sometimes it doesn’t break through the skin and

This is a linear anal ulcer present at the anal margin usually midline at the back, sometimes at the front. The ulcer may develop after rapid evacuation with a hard stool. Sometimes a lump is felt which is swollen skin at the end of the ulcer. Other predisposing factors are pregnancy/delivery where the fissure is

Haemorrhoids are as old as man him(her)self. The complaint is common affecting up to 5-10% of the adult population. The actual haemorrhoid is tissue (blood vessels muscle fibres, connective tissue, mucosa, anal skin) that is normally present but abnormally larger or looser or both. The tissue enlarges with straining and blood within the vessels is