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The Surgical Management of Rectal Prolapse

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Abstract

Rectal prolapse is a debilitating condition predominant in the elderly female population. Etiological factors include age, multiparity, and anorexia. The diagnosis is clinical but a full assessment of pelvic floor function and the exclusion of organic disease are essential prior to operative intervention. As concomitant urogynecological disorders are present in a third of patients, discussion in a pelvic floor multidisciplinary team forum is mandated. Surgical correction can be performed using a perineal or an abdominal approach. The heterogeneity of trial design in the current literature makes direct comparison of the techniques difficult. Perineal approaches are generally preferred in high-risk, elderly patients as they can often be performed under regional anesthesia. The evidence surrounding the technical aspects of abdominal rectopexy, such as the need to perform a colectomy or the decision to preserve/divide the lateral ligaments, is examined in this review. In abdominal surgery, the use of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques and enhanced recovery protocols are recommended.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Scarborough Hospital, Woodlands Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6QL, UK

    Cristian Soare, Konstantinos Lasithiotakis, Helena Dearden, Shailendra Singh & Clare McNaught

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  1. Cristian Soare
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  2. Konstantinos Lasithiotakis
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  3. Helena Dearden
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  4. Shailendra Singh
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  5. Clare McNaught
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Correspondence to Clare McNaught.

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Soare, C., Lasithiotakis, K., Dearden, H. et al. The Surgical Management of Rectal Prolapse. Indian J Surg 83 (Suppl 3), 694–700 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-019-02058-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-019-02058-0

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