[Current surgical treatment of rectal prolapse in the adult]

Prolapse of the rectum in adults has a complex etio-pathogenesis which involves a number of anatomical and physiological factors which, with the impulse of effort, cause the viscus to protrude externally through the sphincter. About one hundred operations have been designed to treat this condition, inspired by various mechanisms which have been considered to be responsible or involving excision of the prolapsed viscus. The results have been disappointing in view of the high rate of recurrence. At the present time, we prefer operations which anchor the rectum to posterior osseous structures, which are well tolerated, even by elderly patients. The immediate and long term results of these operations are very satisfactory. The author presents his experience of one of these operations.