PFMT alone, PFMT plus BFB and ES, and PFMT plus ES were more effective than the control for urinary incontinence following prostatectomy. The effect of PFMT plus BFB on postprostatectomy incontinence remains uncertain.

Background A functional definition of ankyloglossia has been based on assessment of tongue mobility using the tongue range of motion ratio (TRMR) with the tongue tip extended towards the incisive papilla (TIP). Whereas this measurement has been helpful in assessing for variations in the mobility of the anterior one‐third of the tongue (tongue tip and apex), it may be insufficient to adequately assess the mobility of the posterior two‐thirds body of the tongue. A commonly used modification is to assess TRMR while the tongue is held in suction against the roof of the mouth in lingual‐palatal suction (LPS). Objective This study aims to explore the utility and normative values of TRMR‐LPS as an adjunct to functional assessment of tongue mobility using TRMR‐TIP. Study Design Cross‐sectional cohort study of 611 subjects (ages: 3‐83 years) from the general population. Methods Measurements of tongue mobility using TRMR were performed with TIP and LPS functional movements. Objective TRMR measurements were compared with subjective self‐assessment of resting tongue position, ease or difficulty elevating the tongue tip to the palate, and ease or difficulty elevating the tongue body to the palate. Results There was a statistically significant association between the objective measures of TRMR‐TIP and TRMR‐LPS and subjective reports of tongue mobility. LPS measurements were much more highly correlated with differences in elevating the posterior body of the tongue as compared to TIP measurements (R2 0.31 vs 0.05, P < .0001). Conclusions This study validates the TRMR‐LPS as a useful functional metric for assessment of posterior tongue mobility.

Objectives: Subjective assessment of nasal obstruction with patient-reported outcome measures such as visual analogue scale and NOSE score may be limited in chronic mouth breathing subjects who are not consciously aware of nasal breathing difficulties. This study investigates a simple objective screening tool to assess the capacity for comfortable nasal breathing that is based on sealing the lips and mouth with tape and assessing whether the subject can breathe comfortably through the nose for up to three minutes. Method: Cross-sectional, multi-center cohort study with 663 participants (ages: 3-83 years, 50.5% female). Lips were gently sealed using MicroPore paper tape; timer was used to assess how long the participants were able to breathe comfortably through the nose for up to 180 seconds. Other measures included subjective rating of perceived difficulty with nasal breathing (VAS, 0-100) as well as self-assessed reports of mouth breathing. Results: There were 9.3% of patients with subjective reports of moderate to severe nasal obstruction (VAS> 50) and 17.2% of patients with predominance of self-reported mouth breathing in this series. Overall, 93.4% of participants successfully passed the nasal breathing test. Among patients with habitual mouth breathing, 83.5% (91/109) were able to breathe comfortably through the nose when instructed to do so for the entire 3-minute duration tested. Similarly, there were 67% (40/59) patients with VAS score >50 who could breathe comfortably through the nose for >180 seconds despite subjective reports of moderate to severe nasal obstruction. Participants unable to breathe exclusively through the nose for 180 seconds had increased likelihood of mouth breathing while awake (OR 4.12, 95% confidence interval 2.14-7.89, p<.0001) as well as increased odds of mouth breathing while asleep (OR 3.05, 95% confidence interval 1.61-5.72, p=0.0003). Conclusion: Objectively testing whether a subject can breathe through the nose with the lips and mouth taped for three minutes can identify patients at risk of mouth breathing and is a simple and effecting screening tool to distinguish organic nasal obstruction from functional mouth breathing habit and or nasal resistance.

ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY IS AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR SMALL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION AFTER CURATIVE RECTAL CANCER SURGERYAim: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) as a complication is not uncommon after curative rectal cancer surgery; adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) may have a contributory role. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for this complication. Methods:The medical records of 260 consecutive patients with rectal cancer (excluding rectosigmoid cancer) who underwent curative surgery at our institution between January 1995 and December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the prevalence of SBO requiring hospitalization and intervention. Possible risk factors for SBO were recorded and analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The median duration of follow up was 76.1 months (range, 3.3-141.8 months). Forty-four patients (16.9%) developed SBO and 19 of them required surgical intervention. Three patients (6.8%) died as a consequence of SBO. Seventy-eight patients (30%) received adjuvant RT with a median dose of 50 Gy (range 30-64 Gy). Patients receiving RT were more likely to develop SBO (25.6% vs 13.2%, P = 0.014). The median duration between adjuvant RT and the first episode of SBO was 23.5 months (range, 5.7-99.4 months). Multivariate analysis showed that adjuvant RT was the only independent risk factor for SBO (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.17-4.42, P = 0.016). Gender, operative approach (open vs laparoscopic), abdominoperineal resection, perioperative blood transfusion, postoperative intra-abdominal sepsis, tumour stage, and disease recurrence were not associated with the development of SBO. Conclusion: Adjuvant RT is the only independent risk factor for SBO after curative surgery for rectal cancer. Patients should be well informed of this potential complication when they are offered adjuvant RT.2 J.C.

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