Constipation and incontinence are of considerable importance to a great number of patients but many put it under taboo. Both functional disturbances comprise a wide spectrum of pathophysiological findings of neuro-muscular changes of the colon or the pelvic floor, but psychological factors may play an important role as well. In recent years much progress has been made in several disciplines which are important for the understanding and handling of constipation and incontinence. This volume, the proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 95 held in Freiburg, Germany, October 28-30, 1996, concentrates...

The first portion of this work is devoted to a consideration of the practical aspects of the proctoscopic examination and thus presents the indications for performing a proctologic evaluation, the information that may be obtained from the patient's medical history, an example of a preprinted data form for use in the recording of the physician's findings, the preparation and positioning of the patient, and the preliminary examination of the anus including the digital rectal examination. The instruments needed to perform proctoscopy are uncomplicated, and the basic tools are inexpensive. The...

Die Bedeutung des morphologischen - makroskopischen wie mikroskopischen - Befundes fur die Diagnostik ist trotz im mer subtilerer Funktionsprufungen, sowie verbesserter che mischer und immunologischer Untersuchungsmethoden keines wegs geringer geworden, man hat eher den gegenteiligen Ein druck: dass dieser Zweig der Diagnostik heute wieder eine Re naissance erlebt. Das ist wohl in erster Linie die Folge des raschen technischen Fortschrittes nach dem 2. Weltkrieg. Vor allem die Entwicklung von flexiblen faseroptischen Endoskopen mit Kaltlichtquellen, sowie verbesserten Geraten zur Entnahme von...