title: Perineal excision of rectal procidentia in elderly high-risk patients. A ten-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report presents a ten-year experience with perineal excision and posterior levator ani repair in elderly, high-risk patients with complete rectal procidentia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two patients with rectal prolapse were treated with perineal excision. Nine presented with acute incarcerated rectal prolapse. Mortality, morbidity, recurrence rates, and improvement of anal continence were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recurrence rate was 5.5 percent. Improvement in anal continence was seen in 66.7 percent of patients. Morbidity and mortality was low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perineal excision of rectal prolapse is safe and has a low recurrence rate. Posterior levator ani repair seems to improve anal continence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Walter O. Boswell Memorial Hospital, Sun City, Arizona.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fietz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003672:Defecation; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods