[The surgical correction of anterior rectocele. Our experience]

Rectocele, or namely the protrusion of the anterior wall of the rectum into the vaginal lumen following the collapse of the rectovaginal septum, is the most common anatomic alteration observed in patients suffering from defecation disorders. The surgical treatment of this pathology is still controversial, particularly in the choice of the surgical approach. From 1992 to 1994 10 patients suffering from low type, symptomatic anterior rectocele associated with intrarectal intussusception underwent muscular plastic surgery of the rectocele and anterior mucosectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether surgical muscular plastic of the rectocele using a transanal approach associated with anterior mucosectomy represents in selected symptomatic patients, a rational and elective therapeutic option. In spite of the small number of patients and the short postoperative follow-up, the authors state that, on the basis of the results obtained, the surgical technique used in this clinical series significantly improves symptoms with a lower incidence of complications compared to the transvaginal approach.