Prosthetic rectopexy to the pelvic floor and sigmoidectomy for rectal prolapse

Full thickness rectal prolapse in young adults with normal pelvic floor is a disease in which the rectum is exceedingly long and mobile. Surgical treatment should correct both anatomical defects by combined rectopexy and colonic resection, which is expected to be less constipating than rectopexy alone. The aim of this study was to describe an original procedure of rectopexy to the pelvic floor with prosthetic material combined with sigmoid resection, and to evaluate prospectively anatomical and functional results.

Thirty-five patients (30 women) of median age 44 years (range 18 to 74) were operated on for full thickness rectal prolapse with normal pelvic floor. The rectum was mobilized posteriorly without division of the lateral ligaments and attached to the pelvic floor previously repaired with a nonabsorbable mesh. The sigmoid colon was resected with hand-sewn anastomosis. Clinical results were assessed by a questionnaire.

There were no deaths or any septic or anastomotic complications. Small bowel obstruction was corrected laparoscopically in 1 patient. Mean hospital stay was 8 days (range 6 to 14). Mean follow-up was 34 months (range 10 to 93). No recurrence was seen. Preoperatively, 33 patients (94%) complained of constipation mainly with emptying problems (21 patients) and 25 patients (71.5%) were incontinent. Postoperatively, no constipated or incontinent patient's condition worsened. Rectal emptying was restored in 17 patients (81%). Eighteen incontinent patients (72%) regained full continence. On the other hand, 2 patients with normal bowel function worsened and 1 patient with an altered rectal compliance after Delorme's operation became incontinent.

In young adults with rectal prolapse and normal pelvic floor undergoing prosthetic rectopexy and sigmoid resection (a) morbidity was low, (b) anatomical control was obtained in all cases, (c) emptying problems were corrected, and (d) deleterious effects are likely to occur if they had no constipation before operation or if rectal compliance was previously altered.