Enterocele manifesting as recurrent anterior rectal prolapse: A case report

An enterocele is a true herniation of small bowel through the rectovaginal septum, most commonly occurring transvaginally. Although the prevalence of enterocele is not as low as previously thought, enteroceles manifesting transrectally or with rectal prolapse are exceedingly rare and without established surgical guidance.

A medically complex, oxygen-dependent patient presented with full fecal incontinence and transrectal enterocele associated with recurrent anterior rectal prolapse. This was diagnosed via defecography and repaired under regional anesthesia through an open transabdominal approach of posterior cul-de-sac obliteration, uterosacral ligament vaginal vault suspension and simplified ventral suture rectopexy. Surgical planning was determined through a multidisciplinary care-conference, with preference for an approach with minimal respiratory compromise and repair durability. Short-term, this patient has complete resolution of bulge symptoms, and improved fecal continence.

In addition to history and examination, dynamic imaging of the pelvic floor, specifically defecography, is particularly useful in identifying enteroceles that present as a component of pelvic organ or anorectal prolapse. As there are no established standard surgical treatment approaches for these rare conditions, surgeons must consider several points prior to proceeding: the repair of the defect, the symptoms the repair targets, and repair durability.

Complete assessment and specialist consultation should be pursued prior to surgical repair for anorectal pathology. For this patient, an open transabdominal native tissue repair under regional anesthesia was successful, emphasizing that approaches to surgical correction of such rare presentations must be individualized.