[Transperineal repair of rectocele with prosthetic mesh. A prospective study]. / Traitement de la rectocèle par voie périnéale avec prothèse. Une étude prospective.

PURPOSE: To assess the long term results of a transperineal repair of rectocele with a prosthetic mesh and the criteria for selecting the patients. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients (median age: 60 years) with a symptom-giving rectocele have been operated upon. Indication for surgery was: an obstructed defecation (N = 22); a fecal incontinence (N = 1); a pelvic heaviness with dyspareunia (N = 1) or a severe rectal syndrome (N = 1). Patients were evaluated by physical examination and, preoperatively, by defecography and anorectal manometry. The rectovaginal septum was repaired, through a perineal approach, with an absorbable (N = 5) or non absorbable (N = 20) prosthetic mesh. Long term results were assessed after a median follow-up of 45 (range 12-120) months by physical examination and a standardized questionnaire. The presence of the following three symptoms was evaluated: feeling of incomplete emptying, prolonged and unsuccessful straining at stool, digital assistance. Outcome was considered as successful when none of these symptoms were present, as good when minor emptying difficulties persisted, as moderate when emptying difficulties were associated with straining, as a failure when the symptomatic triad was unchanged. A general satisfaction score was established. RESULTS: All the patients had the defect of the rectovaginal septum corrected. Four patients had a low residual rectocele associated, in two cases, with a rectal prolapse subsequently treated by a Delorme's operation. Outcome in patients complaining of obstructed defecation was considered excellent or good in 80% of patients, moderate in 9% and poor in 9%. Subjective scoring showed a significantly better result in cases of success. Among 11 incontinent patients, seven (63.5%) improved or regained full continence. Dyspareunia in three cases was corrected. Age, parity, digital assistance, previous gynecologic surgery, use of laxatives, size of rectocele, type of mesh, anatomical result of repair had no significant prognostic value. On the other hand, in patients with obstructed defecation, clinical and manometric signs of anal hyperactivity of the pelvic floor or anismus (N = 4) were significantly related to a poor result (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgical repair with a prosthetic mesh is an efficient therapy in patients with obstructed defecation and/or incontinence caused by a rectocele. Clinical and defecographic parameters have no influence on outcome. Preoperative manometric data may help in selecting patients. In case of anal hyperactivity or anismus, given the risk of functional failure, behavioral retraining must be considered as first-line treatment.

Prosthetic rectopexy to the pelvic floor and sigmoidectomy for rectal prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Full thickness rectal prolapse in young adults with normal pelvic floor is a disease in which the rectum is exceedingly long and mobile. Surgical treatment should correct both anatomical defects by combined rectopexy and colonic resection, which is expected to be less constipating than rectopexy alone. The aim of this study was to describe an original procedure of rectopexy to the pelvic floor with prosthetic material combined with sigmoid resection, and to evaluate prospectively anatomical and functional results. METHODS: Thirty-five patients (30 women) of median age 44 years (range 18 to 74) were operated on for full thickness rectal prolapse with normal pelvic floor. The rectum was mobilized posteriorly without division of the lateral ligaments and attached to the pelvic floor previously repaired with a nonabsorbable mesh. The sigmoid colon was resected with hand-sewn anastomosis. Clinical results were assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no deaths or any septic or anastomotic complications. Small bowel obstruction was corrected laparoscopically in 1 patient. Mean hospital stay was 8 days (range 6 to 14). Mean follow-up was 34 months (range 10 to 93). No recurrence was seen. Preoperatively, 33 patients (94%) complained of constipation mainly with emptying problems (21 patients) and 25 patients (71.5%) were incontinent. Postoperatively, no constipated or incontinent patient's condition worsened. Rectal emptying was restored in 17 patients (81%). Eighteen incontinent patients (72%) regained full continence. On the other hand, 2 patients with normal bowel function worsened and 1 patient with an altered rectal compliance after Delorme's operation became incontinent. CONCLUSIONS: In young adults with rectal prolapse and normal pelvic floor undergoing prosthetic rectopexy and sigmoid resection (a) morbidity was low, (b) anatomical control was obtained in all cases, (c) emptying problems were corrected, and (d) deleterious effects are likely to occur if they had no constipation before operation or if rectal compliance was previously altered.

[Treatment of complete rectal prolapse with rectopexy to the pelvic floor with prosthesis and sigmoid resection. Anatomoclinical results of a prospective study]. / Traitement du prolapsus rectal complet par rectopexie au plancher pelvien avec prothèse et résection du sigmoïde. Résultats anatomocliniques d'une étude prospective.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND, AIM OF THE STUDY: Full thickness rectal prolapse in young adults with normal perineal structures is a disease of the rectum which is exceedingly long and mobile. Surgical treatment should correct both anatomical defects by combined rectopexy and colonic resection, expected to be less constipating than rectopexy alone. The aim of this study was to describe an original procedure of rectopexy to the pelvic floor with prosthetic material combined with sigmoid resection, and to evaluate prospectively anatomical and functional results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (16 women and four men) of median age 41 years were operated on for full thickness rectal prolapse with normal perineal structures. The rectum was mobilised posteriorly without division of the lateral ligaments and attached to the pelvic floor previously repaired, with a semi-absorbable prosthesis. The sigmoid colon was resected with hand-sewn anastomosis. Clinical results were assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no deaths or any septic or anastomotic complications. Small bowel obstruction was corrected laparoscopically in one patient. Mean hospital stay was 8.7 days. Mean follow up was 30 (range 9-75) months. No recurrence was seen. Pre-operatively, 18 patients (90%) complained of constipation mainly with emptying problems (15 patients) and 13 patients (65%) were incontinent. Post-operatively, no constipated or incontinent patient's condition worsened. Rectal emptying was restored in 13 patients (86.5%). Eight incontinent patients (61.5%) regained full continence. On the other hand, two patients with normal bowel function worsened and one patient with an altered rectal compliance after Delorme's operation became incontinent. CONCLUSIONS: In young adults with rectal prolapse and normal perineal structures undergoing prosthetic rectopexy and sigmoid resection: a) morbidity was low, b) anatomical control was obtained in all cases, c) emptying problems were corrected, d) deleterious effects are likely to occur if they had no constipation before operation or if rectal compliance was previously altered.

[Pre-peritoneal inguinal hernioplasty using Rhodergon's prosthesis. Study of a series of 282 hernia operations]. / Hernioplastie inguinale pré-péritonéale par prothèse de Rhodergon. Etude d'une série de 282 hernies.

282 acquired inguinal hernias in 183 adult patients were treated between 1974 and 1986 by means of a pre-peritoneal prosthesis. Posterior herniorrhaphy with reconstruction of the internal inguinal ring was associated with this procedure from 1981 onwards. 75% of the patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 58 months. Analysis of the results demonstrated a significant correlation between recurrences and the use of a single midline prosthesis for bilateral hernias and parietalisation of the spermatic cord and between septic complications and the use of a silicone-coated velvet prothesis, which subsequently had to be abandoned. Age, sex, obesity, type of hernia and a history of herniorrhaphy did not have any influence on the results. In group of 150 hernias treated with a single, lateralised Rhodergon prosthesis with a transprosthetic cord and reconstruction of the internal inguinal ring, the recurrence rate was 1.3% (2 cases) and the deep infection rate was 0.6% (1 case). Apart from early recurrences due to technical errors, the long-term efficacy of this technique appears to be permanent.