Prolapso rectal completo en el contexto de las enfermedades del suelo pélvico. Nuestra experiencia en la resección por la vía perineal

[Laparoscopic treatment of rectal prolapse]

INTRODUCTION

Rectal prolapse is an uncommon disease mainly seen in patients of advanced age. It is treated surgically, although there is still significant controversy as regards the most appropriate technique. In the last few years the laparoscopic route has been shown to be feasible and has the advantage of being a minimally invasive technique.

OBJECTIVE

To present the preliminary results of a series of patients with rectal prolapse, the majority of whom were treated by performing a laparoscopic posterior rectopexy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Between February 1998 and February 2008, 17 patients diagnosed with total rectal prolapse were operated on. In 15 cases, a Wells type posterior rectopexy was performed and in the other two a sigmoidectomy was done. The pre-surgical characteristics, as well as the immediate post-surgical results and the long-term follow up results were analysed.

RESULTS

The mean age of the series was 63 (21-87) years, with a mean operation time of 186 (105-240) min and a conversion index of 6.6%. There was no post-surgical morbidity and mortality and the mean hospital stay was 5.2 (3-8) days. The mean follow-up was 39 (6-96) months with no relapses seen. One patient had an intralumen migration of the mesh which was expulsed via the rectum, two years after the surgery. One patient died during follow-up due to his underlying severe cardio-respiratory disease. The prolapse re-occurred in one patient after a sigmoidectomy. Eight patients (53%) previously had constipation and in six cases (40%), incontinence. In the post-surgical reviews, constipation persisted in three patients (20%) and a it was seen de novo in one case (6.6%). The incontinence was resolved in four cases (26%) and persisting in two patients (13%).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic rectopexy is a good technical option with a low morbidity-mortality and a reduced hospital stay, as well as good results in the long-term.

La perineoplastia protésica del tabique rectovaginal, vía transvaginal, en el tratamiento del rectocele y enterocele. Resultados de 77 casos

OBJECTIVE

Anatomical and functional outcomes after transvaginal perineoplasty of the vaginal septum using polypropylene mesh in 77 patients with rectocele, enterocele, or both were studied. The frequency of other associated pelvic floor defects was also analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Between 1997 and May 2005, 77 patients underwent surgery (30 for enterocele, 33 for rectocele and 14 for both defects). In all patients, complete dissection of the rectovaginal space, resection of the redundant vaginal wall tissue, suturing of the polypropylene mesh to the lateral bundles of the puborectal muscle, and posterior colporrhaphy were performed. In enteroceles, Douglas' pouch was resected before the mesh was placed.

RESULTS

During follow-up, there were 3 minimal vaginal dehiscences requiring partial extirpation of the mesh in 2 (12.1%), and 1 (1.2%) rectocele recurrence. No subsequent mesh extrusions or recurrences were detected during follow-up. The frequency of associated pelvic floor disorders was 92%.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, placement of polypropylene mesh in the rectovaginal septum with lateral suturing to puborectal muscle bundles provides excellent results compared with other approaches and meshes that are not sutured and fixed in the rectovaginal space, leading to mesh infection, extrusion or complete removal.