Multimedia article. External pelvic rectal suspension (the express procedure) for internal rectal prolapse, with or without concomitant rectocele repair: a video demonstration.
OBJECTIVE
Internal rectal prolapse has been proposed as a cause of symptomatic rectal evacuatory dysfunction. Abdominal rectopexy, the standard surgical approach, has significant attendant risk and does not address any concomitant rectocele. This video was designed to demonstrate a novel surgical method that uses porcine collagen implants (Permacol), designed to correct internal rectal prolapse, with or without rectocele.


METHODS



METHODS
severe rectal evacuatory dysfunction refractory to maximal conservative therapy and full-thickness internal rectal prolapse impeding rectal emptying on defecography with or without associated functional rectocoele; normal colonic transit. Patients undergo comprehensive preoperative and postoperative symptomatic assessment and anorectal physiologic testing, including defecography. A crescenteric perineal skin incision allows development of the rectovaginal/rectoprostatic plane to Denonvilliers fascia, with rectal mobilization. A curved tunneller inserted via the perineal wound is guided retropubically to emerge through suprapubic wounds created on each side. Permacol T-strips are sutured to the anterolateral rectal wall bilaterally, upward traction exerted, and the stem of each T-strip is sutured to the suprapubic periosteum, suspending the rectum. Concomitant rectocele is repaired using a Permacol patch in the rectovaginal plane.


RESULTS
Short-term results for the "Express" are encouraging with improvement in evacuatory and prolapse symptoms and concomitant anatomic improvement at defecography.


CONCLUSIONS
This procedure promises to be an effective technique for managing patients with refractory evacuatory dysfunction secondary to internal rectal prolapse, with or without rectocele.
Dench
Julia E
JE
Centre for Academic Surgery, GI Physiology Unit, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom.
Scott
S Mark
SM
Lunniss
Peter J
PJ
Dvorkin
Lee S
LS
Williams
Norman S
NS
D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D020047:Rectocele / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013536:Suture Techniques
C422414:Permacol; D003094:Collagen