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Whole gut transit is prolonged after Ripstein rectopexy
I Schultz1, A Mellgren, M Oberg
1Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Objective:
To find out if there are changes in transit time after Ripstein rectopexy and whether measurement of whole gut transit time preoperatively can predict postoperative constipation.
Design:
Prospective open study.
Setting:
Teaching hospital, Sweden.
Subjects:
30 patients undergoing Ripstein rectopexy for rectal prolapse (n = 17) or internal rectal intussusception (n = 13).
Methods:
Whole-gut transit studies and recording of symptoms of constipation preoperatively and postoperatively.
Main Outcome Measures:
Constipation and retention of markers.
Results:
Significantly more markers were retained in postoperative compared with preoperative transit studies (p < 0.001). Constipation mainly presented as emptying difficulties and there was no increase in the total number of patients who reported emptying difficulties postoperatively. There was a weak but significant correlation between retention of markers preoperatively and postoperative emptying difficulties (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Whole gut transit was prolonged after Ripstein rectopexy. Preoperative retention of markers indicated an increased risk of postoperative constipation.