A prospective randomized study of abdominal rectopexy with and without sigmoidectomy in rectal prolapse.

Eighteen patients with full-thickness prolapse of the rectum were randomized to rectopexy alone (group 1) or with sigmoidectomy (group 2). Three months postoperatively, seven patients in group 1 and two in group 2 complained of severe constipation. One patient in group 1 and three patients in group 2 remained incontinent. The results of colonic marker studies showed a significant increase in the number of markers at day 5 for those in group 1 (preoperative, 7.7 +/- 2.6; postoperative, 14.6 +/- 2.2; t test, p less than 00.1) but no significant increase in group 2 (preoperative, 4.6 +/- 2.2; postoperative 6.8 +/- 2.3; t test, p less than 0.01). No significant changes or differences between the groups were seen in the anorectal angle on videoproctogram. The results of anorectal physiologic studies done postoperatively showed no differences between the groups in maximum resting pressure, sphincter length or saline solution infusion test; however, the patients in group 1 had a significantly greater rectal compliance (group 1, 0.24 +/- 0.02 millimeters mercury per milliliter; group 2, 0.1 +/- 0.02 millimeters mercury per milliliter; p less than 00.1). This may occur because the redundant loop of sigmoid colon causes hold-up of intestinal content and kinking at the junction between the sigmoid colon and the rectum.