[Efficacy analysis of Altemeier and Delorme procedures for the rectal prolapse]

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life after Altemeier and Delorme procedures for rectal prolapse patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Clinical data of patients with full-thickness rectal prolapse undergoing surgical treatment in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from February 2013 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who had no preoperative imaging data, who suffered from internal rectal intussusception, or who did not undergo Altemeier and Delorme operations were excluded. Sixty-seven patients were enrolled, including 32 males with median age of 20.5 (13, 34) years and 35 females with median age of 65.0 (50, 77) years. According to different procedures, patients were divided into the Altemeier group (48 cases) and the Delorme group (19 cases), who received standard Altemeier and Delorme operations respectively. The maximal prolapse length of preoperative squat position, the Longo constipation score, Wexner incontinence score, EQ-5D-5L score, postoperative complications and recurrence rate were analyzed and compared between two groups. Results: The maximal prolapse length of preoperative squat position in Altemeier group and Delorme group was (7.3±3.3) cm and (4.9±2.1) cm respectively with significant difference (t=2.907, P=0.005). The operations in both groups were successfully completed. The operation time and postoperative hospital stay of Altemeier group were longer than those of Delorme group [(112.3±47.0) minutes vs. (80.7±35.4) minutes, t=2.637, P=0.010; (11.3±5.0) days vs. (8.6±3.0) days, t=2.177, P=0.033]. The median follow-up period was 26 (13, 45) months. In the last follow-up, compared to pre-operation, the Longo constipation score [9.0 (6.0, 14.0) vs 4.0 (1.0, 6.5), Z=-4.989, P<0.001], Wexner incontinence score [0 (0, 5.5) vs. 0 (0, 2.0), Z=-3.325, P<0.001] and EQ-5D-5L score [45.0 (40.0, 57.5) vs. 80.0 (70.0, 87.5), Z=-5.587, P<0.001] were all improved obviously in the Altemeier group, meanwhile Longo constipation score [6.0 (5.0, 14.0) vs. 3.0 (1.0, 7.0), Z=-2.186, P=0.029], Wexner incontinence score [0 (0, 12.0) vs. 0 (0, 4.0), Z=-2.325, P=0.020] and EQ-5D-5L score [50.0 (35.0, 60.0) vs. 75.0 (65.0, 90.0), Z=-3.360, P=0.001] in the Delorme group were all improved obviously as well. The postoperative morbidity of complication between the two groups was not significantly different [10/48 (20.8%) vs. 4/19 (21.1%), χ(2)=0.049, P=0.826]. Sixteen patients (28.0%) relapsed after operation, including 10 patients in the Altemeier group and 6 patients in the Delorme group, without statistically significant difference (P=0.134). Conclusions: Both the Altemeier and Delorme procedures are effective treatments for rectal prolapse, which can improve the postoperative quality of life. Delorme procedure has the advantages of shorter operation time and faster postoperative recovery in patients with mild prolapse.