Rectal prolapse. An update on the rectal sling procedure.

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Biomaterials in Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Rectal prolapse repair has utilized rectal sling procedures for over 30 years.
• Previous prosthetic slings faced challenges with excessive tissue reaction or inadequate tissue ingrowth.
• Gore-Tex offers inert properties and a porous structure, promoting tissue incorporation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an improved rectal sling procedure for rectal prolapse repair.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using Gore-Tex in a modified Ripstein procedure.
• To address limitations of previous prosthetic slings and surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of the modified Ripstein procedure utilizing a Gore-Tex rectal sling.
• Posterior placement of the sling to allow anterior rectal wall distension, preventing fecal impaction.
• Surgical repair in a series of 23 patients with rectal prolapse.

Main Results:

• Successful rectal prolapse repair in all 23 patients.
• No instances of recurrence were observed post-procedure.
• Minimal postoperative morbidity was reported, with no cases of fecal impaction.

Conclusions:

• The modified rectal sling procedure using Gore-Tex is a safe and effective treatment for rectal prolapse.
• Gore-Tex facilitates optimal tissue incorporation and reduces risks associated with previous prosthetic materials.
• Posterior sling placement effectively mitigates the risk of postoperative fecal impaction.