Slow transit of the colon associated with severe constipation after the Ripstein operation. A clinical and physiologic study.

Eighteen patients with severe constipation after undergoing the Ripstein operation for rectal prolapse (n = 11) or internal rectal procidentia (n = 7) were studied with defecography, anorectal manometry, electromyography of the external anal sphincter and the puborectalis muscle, colonic transit time, and blood tests. Thirteen patients had slow-transit constipation. None showed a completely normal pattern in the parameters studied. The authors emphasize the importance of careful preoperative investigation to identify the patients who have associated colorectal disturbances together with their rectal prolapse or internal rectal procidentia.