15-Year experience in the treatment of rectal prolapse in children

Rectal prolapse is a common and usually self-limited condition in children. Several surgical techniques have been advocated for refractory prolapse. We reviewed our experience with treatment and the outcome of refractory rectal prolapse.

Retrospective review was conducted on patients undergoing surgery for rectal prolapse from January 1993 to March 2009. Patients with imperforate anus/cloacal abnormalities, Hirschsprung disease, spina bifida, or prior pull-through were excluded.

Twenty patients underwent 23 procedures for rectal prolapse. There were 10 posterior sagittal rectopexies, 6 transabdominal rectopexies, 5 laparoscopic rectopexies, 1 hypertonic saline injection, and 1 anal cerclage. The mean duration of symptoms was 1.6 years (range, 1-10 years). The mean age at operation was 6.8 years (range, 4 months-19 years), with a 5:1 male predominance. There was no operative or perioperative mortality. Median length of follow-up was 7.2 months; 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The overall recurrence rate was 35%. All recurrences followed posterior sagittal rectopexies, which had a 70% recurrence rate. Four patients required reoperation, all done transabdominally (2 open and 2 laparoscopically). None of the 3 remaining patients with mild recurrences required reoperation.

A variety of options for management of refractory rectal prolapse in children exist. Laparoscopic rectopexy seems to be safe and a comparatively successful option in these children.