Assessment of incidence of recurrence and constipation in patients of rectal prolapse undergoing rectal mobilization only with division of lateral stalks

Background: Rectal prolapse is a pelvic floor disorder that can occur in men and women of all ages. It results in pain, bleeding per rectum, seepage, diarrhoea or constipation and a disabled quality of life. With the advent of twentieth century, perineal operative procedures have become more common. Perineal procedures though have lower morbidities but have higher recurrence rate and high incidence of post-operative constipation. Novel abdominal approaches to rectal prolapse repair also became common during the first half of this century. Numerous types of surgical procedures have been attempted. Most techniques developed till now have some advantages and some short comings. CT Speakman and Pollen et al have shown in their studies   that division of lateral ligaments caused new onset constipation and they attributed this effect to denervation of rectum. As the issue of recurrence and post-operative constipation remained unsettled.Methods: This was an observational study to assess the incidence of recurrence and post-operative constipation in patients of rectal prolapse. In well selected patients, we performed complete rectal mobilization with division   of lateral ligaments. We assessed the patients on the basis of Clevland clinical constipation scoring system.Results: Out of 25 patients, 4 patients developed constipation, 2 had mild and 2 had moderate constipation and 2 patients had recurrence. Patients were kept under six monthly follow-up till a period of eighteen months.Conclusions: Only rectal mobilization with division of lateral ligaments can be a good surgical option in patients of rectal prolapse not having severe constipation.

Tumor height from the anal verge before and after complete mobilization of the rectum

Rectal tumor height has been observed to increase after complete mobilization.OBJECTIVES: 1.) to measure tumor height in resectable rectal cancers before and after complete mobilization, 2.) to describe changes in tumor height measurements at different levels of the rectum, and 3.) to determine the probability of a two centimeter increase in tumor height after mobilization in low rectal cancers. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional series including all resectable rectal cancer treated at our hospital from January to December, 2003. Proctoscopy measurements of rectal tumor height after induction of anesthesia were compared to measurements done after complete rectal mobilization. Logistic curve fitting was used to calculate the probability of a two centimeter increase in tumor height for low rectal cancers after complete mobilization.RESULTS: In the 12-month period, 37 patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum were seen. Ages of patients ranged from 26 to 86, with mean age of 57.8 years. Thirty-three patients had resectable rectal cancer. Tumor height ranged from zero to 11 cm, with mean height of 5.7 cm. After complete mobilization, tumor height increased in 50 percent of upper rectal cancers, 92 percent of mid-rectal cancers, and 32 percent of low rectal cancers. Logistic curve fitting showed probability of a two-centimeter increase in tumor height was 52 percent at seven centimeters, 40 percent at six centimeters, 28 percent at five centimeters, and 19 percent at four centimeters. DISCUSSION: The decision to perform APR for low rectal cancers must not be based solely in pre-operative tumor height measurements since pre-operative measurements of rectal tumor height can increase when the rectum is completely mobilized.