title: Durability of success after rectocele repair.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the durability of success after rectocele repair and to evaluate parameters that might influence long-term results. Twenty-five patients with rectocele were prospectively evaluated both clinically and physiologically. Follow-up was performed twice, at 1 and 5.1 years postoperatively. Twenty-four patients had a long-term follow-up; 21/23 patients (91%) with preoperative symptoms of rectal emptying difficulty reported improvement of their symptoms and 9 of 12 (75%) with preoperative symptoms of pelvic heaviness reported relief at long-term follow-up. All 5 patients with preoperative pathologic transit study had various degrees of rectal emptying difficulty at long-term follow-up. Three of 5 patients with preoperative paradoxical sphincter reaction (PSR) at electromyography (EMG) reported improvement of the symptoms of rectal emptying difficulty at long-term follow-up. Surgery for rectocele is associated with improved symptoms in a majority of patients which are sustained long term. Patients with pathologic transit study may have a less favorable symptomatic outcome. The clinical significance of PSR needs further study.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Annika.Lopez@kids.ki.se
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anzén
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bremmer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mellgren
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zetterström
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holmström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology*; D003672:Defecation; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020047:Rectocele / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome