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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Laparoscopic Non-Mesh Cerclage Pectopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Published on: September 13, 2022
Laparoscopic rectopexy for external prolapse in children
Jonathan Randall1, Hugh Gallagher1, Bruce Jaffray2
1Department of colorectal surgery, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
Insights
Laparoscopic mesh rectopexy offers a safe and effective treatment for pediatric rectal prolapse, with a trend towards reduced recurrence compared to suture methods. However, a subset of patients may still experience persistent symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Colorectal surgery
Background:
- Rectal prolapse in children often necessitates surgical intervention after conservative management failure.
- Solitary rectal ulcers are a common comorbidity in pediatric rectal prolapse cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic rectopexy in children with external rectal prolapse.
- To compare the efficacy of suture versus mesh techniques in pediatric laparoscopic rectopexy.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection from 2006-2013 at a tertiary referral center.
- Analysis of laparoscopic rectopexy procedures (suture and mesh) in 11 pediatric patients.
- Outcomes assessed included symptom recurrence, visible prolapse, and need for reoperation.
Main Results:
- Eighteen procedures were performed; 6 patients had solitary rectal ulcers.
- Complete resolution occurred in 7 patients, with partial resolution in 1.
- All suture rectopexy cases failed, necessitating reoperation; 3 patients had persistent prolapse despite multiple procedures. No serious complications were reported.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic mesh rectopexy is a safe procedure for pediatric external rectal prolapse.
- Mesh rectopexy demonstrated a trend towards lower recurrence rates compared to suture rectopexy.
- A subset of pediatric patients may not achieve complete resolution with laparoscopic rectopexy.
Purpose:
This study reports the results of laparoscopic rectopexy in children.
Methods:
Results were obtained from a prospective database for all laparoscopic rectopexy procedures performed for external prolapse in a tertiary referral centre from 2006 to 2013. Outcomes included recurrence of symptoms and/or visible prolapse as well as the need for further surgery
Results:
Eighteen procedures including both suture and mesh rectopexy were performed in 11 patients. Six had solitary rectal ulcers. All patients had failed conservative management, including laxative therapy, and one patient had previously had a trial of injection of hypertonic saline. At a median follow up of 33months (6-75) complete resolution was seen in 7 cases and partial resolution, with some continuing symptoms, was seen in 1 patient. All suture rectopexy cases ultimately failed and required a redo rectopexy procedure. Three patients had persistent failure with recurrence of prolapse during the study period despite repeated procedures. There were no serious complications.
Conclusions:
Laparoscopic mesh rectopexy can be safely performed in children and can lead to complete resolution of external prolapse. There is a cohort for whom it fails to relieve the problem. In this series there was a trend towards less recurrence with mesh rectopexy.
