Rectosigmoid prolapse--A case report

Many factors have been indentified as a possible cause of rectal prolaps. Despite the fact that it is not a life- threating condition, its clinical presentation varies, and sometimes it can present as an emergency. We presented a patient with prolapse of an unusually large segment of the rectosigmoid colon caused by chronic constipation, as an incarcerated segment repaired surgically.

A 62-year-old female patient was referred to the Emergency Department in bad condition with severe pain in the perianal region. On examination a complete rectal prolaps as well as a part of sigmoid colon were found. Macroscopically, the prolapsed segment appeared edematous, livid, with ulcerations. An attempt to manually reduce prolapse failed, therefore resection of 50 cm of sigmoid colon with rectopexy had to be performed. No complications occurred and the patient was without symptoms six months later. Colonoscopy did not reveal any abnormality.

Although the preoperative management and preparation of the patient was limited, emergancy surgical intervention for such a case was the strategy of choice due to magnitude of the prolapsing segment. It provided a successful and permenant solution.