Laparoscopic Treatment of Rectal Prolapse

Rectal prolapse is a distressing condition often affecting elderly patients. Open rectopexy has a proven track record in the treatment of this condition but may be complicated by significant morbidity. The benign nature of the disease and reduced pain and pulmonary complications of the laparoscopic approach makes this an attractive operation in this patient group. Laparoscopic prosthesis fixation rectopexy and lateral ligament suspension with and without colectomy have been described with low recurrence rates, good patient acceptance, improvement in symptoms, and both radiological and physiological assessments, although these initial findings require further evaluation with prospective controlled trials.