Efficacy of two different surgical techniques combined in the treatment of rectocele

Rectocele is defined as the herniation of rectal wall due to a rectovaginal septum defect in direction of the vagina. In most of cases it is a result of vaginal delivery or repeated increases of intra-abdominal pressure due to chronic constipation. Some patients can develop rectocele as a consequence of congenital or inherited weakness of the pelvic support system. The rectopexy procedure by a single mechanical stapler allows to ablate the exceeding tissue. This surgery is performed through transanal access without laparotomy, by means of a circular stapler which simultaneously resects portion of the rectal wall and re-anastomizes it. Also the technique of sequential transfixed stitches (TSTS) represents a minimally invasive procedure for the rectocele treatment, allowing the performance of a complete plasty of rectal wall through transanal access. Hence, starting from a more effective stadiation of rectocele, the authors of this study will show the advantages of an endorectal approach for the treatment of the above-mentioned disease using both methods. A total of 25 female patients attending our colonproctology outpatient department, with an age ranging between 38 and 63 years, have been selected for our study; following a careful assessment of stadiation, they have undergone rectopexy with circular stapler first, thereafter fulfilling the surgery with TSTS. the mean duration of hospital stay was 2.5 days (range 2-3). Twelve patients out of 25 have shown early complications, and 11 patients late ones. Among the early complications, 3 patients reported pain (12 %), 3 patients urinary retention (12 %), and 2 patients bleeding (8 %). Among late complications, 5 cases of urgency defecation disorders (>4 months) (20 %), 1 intestinal flatus incontinence (4 %), 1 stenosis (4 %), 2 prolonged pain and 2 cases of persistent obstructive defecation syndrome were reported. No cases of life-threatening local or pelvic sepsis as well as of rectovaginal fistulae were reported. At the 6 months post-surgery evaluation, neither rectocele recurrence nor prolapse was observed. The association of circular stapler and TSTS in the rectopexy treatment of rectocele showed its short-term efficacy, producing an improvement of patient's clinical conditions, without inducing further alterations of pelvic statics, of the sphincteric tone as well as of rectum emptiness deficit.