title: Surgical management of rectal prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rectal prolapse is uncommon; however, the true incidence is unknown because of underreporting, especially in the elderly population. Full-thickness rectal prolapse, mucosal prolapse and internal prolapse are three different clinical entities, which are often combined and constitute rectal prolapse. The aim of the study is to present our experience in the surgical management of rectal prolapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 6-year period (2004-2010), 27 patients were surgically treated for rectal prolapse. The majority of patients were women (25 women, two men) and their mean age was 72.36 years. The operations performed were two Delorme's procedures, five STARR (Stapled TransAnal Rectal Resection), 14 Wells procedures, two Wells combined with Thiersch, one Altemeier, one sigmoid resection combined with Wells and two Thiersch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An emergency sigmoidostomy was performed on a patient after Wells operation due to obstructive ileus. One death occurred on the 5th postoperative day due to pulmonary embolism. Two recurrences observed 8 months postoperatively, one in a patient after STARR operation and one in a patient after Thiersch technique. The great majority of patients are completely relieved of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of different modalities in the treatment of rectal prolapse is attributed to the fact that cause, degree of prolapse and symptoms, vary from one patient to another. Successful approach depends on many factors, including the status of a patient's anal sphincter muscle before surgery, whether the prolapse is internal or external and the overall condition of the patient.
authors: First Propedeutic Surgical Department, Aristotle's University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, T Oikonomidi 21, Kalamaria, 551 31 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Michalopoulos
authors: V N
authors: VN
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Panidis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Apostolidis
authors: Alpha
authors: A
authors: Mekras
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Duros
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ioannidis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Stavrou
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Basdanis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence