title: Clinical results of abdominal rectopexy for rectal prolapse.
abstract: Abdominal Marlex-mesh rectopexy was used for surgical treatment of rectal prolapse in 54 consecutive patients. Anal incontinence was observed in 43 patients (80%) before surgical treatment. The degree of anal incontinence was more severe in women as compared with men. Operative treatment corrected the pathologic anatomy effectively as only one recurrent prolapse developed. At the follow-up examination three patients had symptomless anal mucosal prolapse during maximal straining. 75% of the incontinent patients regained continence for faeces and the rest had some improvement in continence. Seventeen patients (31%) had postoperative constipation, that required lactulose treatment. In conclusion, abdominal Marlex-mesh rectopexy can be recommended as safe and effective treatment for rectal prolapse, despite some patients developing constipation and some remaining incontinent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matikainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh
chemical_list: C016674:Plastipore; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011126:Polypropylenes