Constipation after rectopexy for rectal prolapse. Where is the obstruction?

The pathophysiology of constipation after rectopexy remains unclear: acquired anorectal dysfunction or preoperative colonic state are, by turns, the supposed culprit. The aim of this prospective study was to characterize the colorectal motility abnormalities encountered after such a surgical procedure. Twelve patients (10 females, 2 males, aged 50.5 +/- 5.2 years) complaining of severe constipation or its worsening after Orr rectopexy (OR) for rectal prolapse were studied. Each underwent detailed interrogation as to their symptoms, left colonic manometry (basal and postprandial motor indexes and their caudad gradients in the sigmoid), anorectal manometry, evacuation proctography, and colonic transit time with radiopaque markers. Results were compared to those obtained in two control groups: 10 healthy volunteers (HV) and 12 patients complaining of a rectal prolapse (RP) observed consecutively during the same period of evaluation (June 90 to December 91). Before surgery, the OR and RP groups were similar with respect to mean age, sex ratio, weekly stool frequency, subjective dyschezia and manual anal supplies, constipation symptoms, and anal incontinence. OR patients differed significantly from the RP group in having a lower weekly stool frequency (2.5 +/- 2.2 vs 5.2 +/- 3.7, P < 0.01) and a higher prevalence of abdominal pain (7 vs 1 patients, P < 0.05). Above the rectopexy, global (135.9 +/- 38 vs 51 +/- 30.5 hr, P < 0.01) and left (61.6 +/- 10 vs 18.2 hr, P < 0.01) colonic transit times were significantly higher in OR patients; moreover, the basal motor index gradient was negative in all but one case (-94.1 +/- 101 vs 177.3 +/- 131, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)