Reduced port laparoscopic rectopexy for full-thickness rectal prolapse

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Colorectal Surgery
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Laparoscopic rectopexy is a standard treatment for full-thickness rectal prolapse.
• Reduced port surgery (RPS) offers potential benefits like reduced pain and improved cosmesis over conventional multiport surgery (MPS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of reduced port surgery (RPS) for laparoscopic rectopexy in treating full-thickness rectal prolapse.
• To compare short-term outcomes of RPS versus multiport surgery (MPS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparison of 37 patients undergoing laparoscopic posterior mesh rectopexy (Wells procedure) between October 2012 and December 2018.
• Patients were divided into multiport surgery (MPS, 10 cases) and reduced port surgery (RPS, 27 cases) groups.
• RPS utilized a multi-channel access device with an additional 12-mm port.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found between MPS and RPS regarding operative time, blood loss, or postoperative complication rates.
• Median hospital stay duration was also comparable between the two surgical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Reduced port laparoscopic posterior mesh rectopexy appears to be a feasible and effective option for full-thickness rectal prolapse.
• A prospective, randomized controlled trial is necessary to definitively establish the superiority of RPS over MPS.