Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Rectal Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition wherein one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their original position and protrude into the vagina. Pelvic organ prolapse surgery has increased in the urogynecological field due to higher aging society. POP patients often suffer from bowel dysfunction, such as difficulty of bowel movements and the need to strain or push on the vagina to have a bowel movement. Rectocele is often treated with the same method used for POP, but sometimes it is treated transanally. In the transabdominal approach, the vagina is divided from the rectum, and the mesh is fixed between the vagina and rectum. On the other hand, rectal prolapse is a condition wherein the rectum slips down from its original position and protrudes from the anus. Like POP surgery, rectal prolapse has been treated laparoscopically. Even though the protruding position is different, both are pelvic conditions, and the concept of treatment is similar. Recently, POP and rectal prolapse have been diagnosed at the same time, and sometimes these diseases have been treated together. In the higher aging society, incidences of POP and rectal prolapse will increase, and both will have greater chance to be treated. Although POP is a urogynecological disease, coloproctologists need to know the bowel dysfunction in order to treat POP.