Diagnosis and assessment of sigmoidoceles

This study analyzed the clinical presentation, incidence, characteristics as demonstrated by defecating proctography, and surgical outcomes of sigmoidoceles.

Defecating proctograms were obtained on all women with clinical evidence of pelvic floor defects between June 1, 1991, and June 30, 1995. The proctograms were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of a sigmoidocele and concomitant pelvic hernias. The distance between the maximum point of sigmoid descent with strain and the perineal body was measured. A chart review was performed to obtain clinical history, physical examination results, surgical treatment, and outcome.

Nine sigmoidoceles (4.0%) were noted in 234 defecating proctograms. The leading edge of the sigmoid hernia ranged from 3.8 cm beyond the perineal body to 8 cm above the perineal body. All nine patients were found to have concomitant rectoceles by proctography, whereas only three were found to have enteroceles. Physical examination before proctography suggested that six patients had vaginal vault prolapse with enterocele, one patient had uterine prolapse with an enterocele, and two patients had rectoceles alone. Five of the seven patients clinically diagnosed with an enterocele showed no small bowel herniation on defecography. No sigmoidoceles were suspected by physical diagnosis alone. All rectoceles were diagnosed by clinical examination. All patients except one, who had concomitant rectal prolapse, complained of constipation. Two patients required manual pressure to the perineum or vagina to defecate. Seven of the nine patients underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery. The surgical procedure for sigmoidocele was determined by severity of constipation, degree of prolapse, and sigmoid redundancy at the time of surgery. Two patients underwent sigmoid resection with sigmoidopexy, one patient had sigmoidopexy alone, and four patients had Halban obliteration of the cul-de-sac. Two patients are successfully using pessaries. Follow-up from 4 months to 2 years (mean 12 months) showed no recurrence of an apical defect by clinical examination. One patient had a recurrent rectocele to the hymenal ring with strain. Five patients had no complaints of constipation, whereas two noted improvement but continued symptoms. Both these patients had Halban procedures only, and one had the recurrent rectocele.

Sigmoidoceles are an uncommon but not rare finding with apical support defects. Physical examination alone does not make the diagnosis. All patients had a rectocele, which substantiates a posterior vaginal support defect. In these patients there was a strong association with constipation that responded to surgical correction, but the degree of anatomic distortion did not always correlate with functional impairment.