[Laparoscopic rectopexy: our experience in the treatment of complete rectal prolapse]

Surgical treatments of rectal prolapse still await a final arrangement. The aim of this work is to present Authors' experience with 12 female patients who underwent laparoscopic rectopexy. The patients, aged between 67 and 84 years, were suffering of a different degree of incontinence classified according to the Browing and Parks scale. Pneumoperitoneum was induced through the Veres needle end 5 trocars were placed. The technique used was the modified Orr-Loygue. One no death was observed and only two not serious intraoperative complications were registered, in both conversion to laparotomy was not necessary. Functional result as for incontinence has been really good (disappeared in 11 cases and improved in one). Whereas regarding the constipation, no improvement was observed in those in who in it was preexisting the operation, not appearing nevertheless, as on the contrary reported by other Authors, in those in whom it wasn't present before surgical treatment. The patients, all in follow-up (range between 10 and 36 months, average 25.08), still now experienced no relapse. In conclusion, on the base of Authors' experience, laparoscopic rectopexy is considered free of particular risks and excellent in the results even if, due to the slight number of series, any definitive judgement can be expressed.