Posterior sagittal approach for mesh rectopexy as a management of complete rectal in adults

Outcomes for men undergoing rectal prolapse surgery - a systematic review

AIM

Rectal prolapse is considered rare in men but the prevalence can be high in certain populations. It is unclear which surgical approach offers lower recurrence rates and better functional outcomes in men. The aim of this work was to determine the recurrence rates, complications and functional outcomes after prolapse surgery in men.

METHOD

The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases were systematically searched to identify studies on outcomes following surgical management of full-thickness rectal prolapse in men (over 18 years of age) published between 1951 and September 2022. Outcomes of interest included recurrence rate after surgery, bowel function, urinary function, sexual function and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies involving 1751 men were included. Two papers focused exclusively on men. Twelve studies employed a mixture of abdominal approaches, ten employed perineal approaches and six compared both. The recurrence rate varied across studies, ranging from 0% to 34%. Sexual and urinary function were poorly reported, but the incidence of dysfunction appears low.

CONCLUSION

The outcomes of rectal prolapse surgery in men are poorly studied with small sample sizes and variable outcomes reported. There is insufficient evidence to recommend a specific repair approach based on the recurrence rate and functional outcomes. Further studies are required to identify the optimal surgical approach for rectal prolapse in men.

Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy vs Delorme's operation in management of complete rectal prolapse: a prospective randomized study

AIM

Various surgical operations have been devised for the treatment of rectal prolapse, yet no ideal procedure has been described. The present study aims to compare the clinical and functional outcome of laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) and Delorme's operation for complete rectal prolapse.

METHOD

Fifty patients with complete rectal prolapse were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly selected to undergo either LVMR or Delorme's procedure after clinical, manometric and radiological evaluation. Patient characteristics, operative data, postoperative complications, recurrence of rectal prolapse and continence state were evaluated. Patients were followed for a mean duration of 18 months.

RESULTS

Thirty-one (62%) patients were women and 19 (38%) patients were men with a mean age of 39.7 ± 6.9 years. Patients were allocated into two equal groups: LVMR group and Delorme's group. Thirty-three (66%) complained of faecal incontinence preoperatively. Patients were followed for 18 months. There was no major postoperative complication or treatment death. Improvement in continence was reported in 80.9% of patients (83.3% in group 1 vs 71.4% in group 2). Recurrent prolapse was observed in 16% of patients in group 2 and 8% in group 1 (P = 0.66). The operation time was significantly greater in group 1 and the length of stay greater in group 2. There was no difference in the fall of constipation score between the groups.

CONCLUSION

There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of recurrence of complete rectal prolapse or postoperative improvement of symptoms between the two groups. Hospital stay was longer after Delorme's procedure but the operation time was shorter. Neither procedure proved definite superiority regarding the clinical and functional outcome at 18 months of follow-up.

High-grade hemorrhoids requiring surgical treatment are common after laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy

Purpose

To describe patients developing grade III and IV hemorrhoids requiring surgery after laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) and to explore the relationship between developing such hemorrhoids and recurrence of rectal prolapse after LVMR.

Methods

All consecutive patients receiving LVMR at the Meander Medical Centre, Amersfoort, the Netherlands, between 2004 and 2013 were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier estimates were calculated for recurrences.

Results

A total of 420 patients underwent LVMR. Sixty-five of these patients (actuarial 5-year incidence 24.3, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 18.6–30.0) developed symptomatic grade III/IV hemorrhoids requiring stapled or excisional hemorrhoidectomy. Re-do surgery for recurrent grade III/IV hemorrhoids was required for 15 of the 65 patients (actuarial 5-year recurrence rate 40.6, 95 % CI 23.2–58.0) after the primary hemorrhoidectomy. Three of the 65 patients developed an external rectal prolapse (ERP) recurrence and eight an internal rectal prolapse (IRP) recurrence. This generated a 5-year recurrence rate of 25.3 % (95 % CI 0–53.9) for ERP recurrence and 24.4 % (95 % CI 9.1–39.7) for IRP recurrence. The rest of the LVMR cohort not receiving additional surgery for hemorrhoids (n = 355) showed significantly lower actuarial 5-year ERP (0.8 %, p = 0.011) and IRP (11 %, p = 0.020) recurrence rates.

Conclusion

High-grade hemorrhoids requiring surgery may be common after LVMR. The development of high-grade hemorrhoids after LVMR might be considered a predictor of rectal prolapse recurrence.

The Altemeier procedure using biologic mesh

Transperineal rectosigmoidectomy is a relatively safe operation for the treatment of rectal prolapse; however, it carries a high rate of recurrence. The use of biologic mesh to buttress the repair and support the pelvic floor muscles may decrease the rate of recurrence. The technique for performing an Altemeier procedure with biologic mesh is described.

Morphological alterations of the enteric nervous system in young male patients with rectal prolapse

OBJECTIVES

The pathogenesis of rectal prolapse (RP) defined by a circumferential, full-thickness invagination of the rectal wall into the anal canal is controversial. RP is normally encountered in elderly women and attributed to several etiological factors (e.g., advanced age, pudendal nerve injury, laxity of supporting ligaments). RP affecting young male patients is unlikely to be explained by these factors and may be due to a rectal motility disorder. Therefore, the enteric nervous system (ENS) as key regulator of intestinal motility was evaluated by a systematic morphometric analysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Full-thickness rectosigmoid specimens obtained from young male patients with symptomatic RP (n = 5) and male controls (n = 15) were processed for conventional histology and immunohistochemistry using anti-HuC/D as pan-neuronal marker. Enteric ganglia, nerve and glial cells were quantified separately in the myenteric (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP).

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients with RP showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased mean ganglionic area both in MP and SMP, increased mean neuronal content of submucosal ganglia, and nearly threefold higher frequency of submucosal ganglia containing ≥7 neurons.

CONCLUSION

The morphometric analysis reveals distinct quantitative alterations of the ENS in young male patients with RP mainly characterized by submucosal hyperganglionosis similar to histopathological features described in intestinal neuronal dysplasia. The data give evidence that RP in this unusual subgroup is associated with morphological changes of enteric ganglia which may contribute to the development of RP and complement established etiological concepts.