[Perineal hernia after rectal extirpation]

Perineal hernia after abdominoperineal extirpation of the rectum is a rare condition. The most common symptom is perinea/discomfort and bulging. This condition most often develops within a year after extirpation of the rectum. In order to prevent perineal hernia great effort should be taken when closing the peritoneum and the muscular layer towards the pelvic cave. Several repair operations have been proposed in the literature. The authors recommend a transabdominal approach, possibly with interposition of a synthetic mesh. If the perineal skin is damaged, a combined approach with both transabdominal and perineal access should be used.