Functional results after abdominal suture rectopexy for rectal prolapse or intussusception.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the functional outcome after suture rectopexy in patients with rectal prolapse or intussusception.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

33 patients with rectal prolapse and 19 patients with intussusception treated by abdominal suture rectopexy 1969-1992.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Bowel function evaluated by a questionnaire a median of 97 months after operation.

RESULTS

10/33 patients (30%) reported less constipation after rectopexy in the prolapse group compared with 3/19 (16%) in the intussusception group (p = 0.33). Rectal emptying improved in 14/33 (42%) and 1/19 (5%), respectively (p = 0.005), and incontinence in 12/33 (36%) and 3/19 (16%), respectively (p = 0.20). Seventeen patients (52%) with prolapse and 3 (16%) with intussusception described the result of operation as excellent or good (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

There is a reasonable chance of improved rectal emptying and continence in patients undergoing suture rectopexy for rectal prolapse, whereas bowel symptoms commonly worsen postoperatively in patients treated for intussusception.