[Surgical treatment of rectoceles]

Rectocele is a posterior colpocele inhabited by an expansion of the anterior wall of the rectum. Its physiopathology is similar to that of other vaginal prolapse and is essentially dependent on the opening of the vulva secondary to a damage of the pelvi-perineal musculature. Its specific symptomatology is poor except for dyschesis. A colpocystogram may be helpful when there is a need to differentiate between rectocele and elytrocele. The surgical treatment of rectocele requires, most of the time, a vaginal approach with posterior colpo-perineomyorraphy. More rarely, when the rectocele is isolated, small and associated with another anorectal pathology, the endo ano-rectal approach may be used to perform the rectorraphy.