Intussusception of the rectum-internal procidentia: treatment and results in 90 patients

A series of 90 patients with intussusception of the rectum (internal procidentia) has been studied. In 11 per cent of the patients there was also an enterocele and in 3 per cent, a large proctocele. Forty patients were operated upon by the Ripstein procedure. Indications for operation were, in most cases, incontinence for gas and/or feces. Seventy-five per cent of the preoperatively incontinent patients were, at follow-up 2 to 10 years after operation, continent. When indications for surgery were pain and or a sensation of obstruction, the results were poor; most of these patients had unchanged symptoms postoperatively, and some even had increased symptoms. There was one postoperative death. Of 50 patients treated conservatively during a period of 2 to 10 years, only two had to be operated upon: one due to the development of a rectal prolapse and the other due to severe pain and an increased sensation of obstruction.