title: Functional results after treatment of rectal prolapse with rectopexy and sigmoid resection.
abstract: Constipation and incontinence are frequent complications of rectal prolapse. Surgery should not only aim to correct prolapse but also improve bowel and sphincter function. From 1986-1991 42 patients with procidentia were treated by rectopexy and sigmoid resection. The mean age was 61.1 years. Thirty-nine patients were available for follow-up examination. Mean follow-up was 54 months. Functional data were collected prospectively before the operation and at follow-up and included clinical parameters, a constipation score, an incontinence score, anal manometry [mean resting pressure (MRP), mean maximum pressure (MMP)], proctography [anorectal angle (ARA)] and colonic transit studies [mean transit time (MTT), rectosigmoid transit time (RSTT)]. The postoperative complication rate was 7.1% (n = 3), mortality was 0%. No recurrence was seen. Constipation complaints improved from 43.6% to 25.6% (p < 0.001) and incontinence from 66.6% to 23.1% (p < 0.001). MRP increased from 36.5 mmHg to 46.0 mmHg and MMP from 90.5 mmHg to 103.0 mmHg (p < 0.001). ARA changed from 102 to 98 degrees (p < 0.001) and correlated with sphincter tone and continence. MTT decreased from 47.8 to 38.5 hours, segmental transit (RSTT) from 21.1 to 12.7 hours (p < 0.001). Our results indicate that rectopexy with sigmoid resection is a safe and effective procedure for rectal prolapse and improves functional disorders of bowel and sphincter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Siewert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*