[Rectum prolapse: resection or abdominal rectopexy]

From January 1983 to December 1987 38 patients had an operation for rectum prolapse. Out of them 20 had anterior rectal resection, in 16 cases we performed a Ripstein-operation, in 1 case we had to do a Miles-procedure, in 1 case a Hartmann-procedure. The follow-up of the patients with anterior rectal resection showed significant increase of continence. There was no recurrence, no patient died from the operation. The Ripstein-procedure showed less effectiveness concerning the continence. In this group we found recurrences, no patient died due to the operation. There was no infection in the small pelvis. We now prefer the anterior resection for treatment of rectum prolapse. First of all we had no recurrence and we were able to increase the continence. This is reason enough to treat the rectum prolapse further on by anterior rectal resection.