Differences in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rectocele: Time for Standardization.

Female Pelvic and Reconstructive Surgery (FPRS) is a multidisciplinary subspecialty that combines the efforts of different professionals to benefit women with pelvic floor disorders.1 Gynecologists, urologists and colorectal surgeons areworking simultaneously and trying to offer the best treatment to their patients. However, each medical specialty presents different backgrounds, and this leads to different points of view for approaching a disease whose treatment could (or should) be carried out in a collaborative fashion. This is particularly important when surgical treatment is indicated. The posterior compartment of the female pelvic floor is an interesting and scarcely explored area, with divergent opinions about the best way to manage it. These differences are so present that the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society (ICS) recently decided to make a joint report about Female Anorectal Dysfunction.2 Rectocele is a bulging of the rectum that protrudes to the posterior vaginal wall and corresponds to half of all prolapse surgeries performed in the US.3 Annually, 160,000 Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) surgeries are made in the US, and due to the aging population, there is a trend in the increase of number of procedures.4 Considering that rectocele is part of the posterior compartment, the reconstruction of this area is still one of the most difficult aspects of pelvic floor surgery,5 and its repair involves from simple plication to site-specific repair, as well as the use of synthetic and biological meshes. The contribution of different specialties to the treatment of rectocele may have its peculiarities. However, these differences never havebeen investigated in depth. In a quick search on PubMed we were able to retrieve almost 1,200 abstracts using rectocele as keyword. However, only a single study addressing these differences was found. Surgeons and gynecologists have not reached a consensus regarding the nomenclature, diagnosis and treatment of rectocele.6 Colorectal surgeons refer to rectocele as the most prevalent clinical finding of the obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS), and it presents constipation, straining for defecation, fecal urgency (sense of incomplete evacuation), tenesmus, pelvic heaviness and self-digitation.7,8 Although rectocele may be associated to ODS, most studies point out that it is rather a consequence than a cause of ODS.9 Moreover, most studies frequently investigate the association of rectocele with adjuvant anatomical abnormalities. One classic example is the link between rectocele and intussusception. About 67.5% of patients with clinical diagnosis of rectocele present an intussusception on magnetic resonance defecography.10 A study with postoperative proctograms indicated that the anterior rectal wall intussusception would have the same etiology as a rectocele, that is, a deficient recto-vaginal ligamentous support.11 Regarding diagnosis, colorectal surgeons usually classify rectocele by defecography, magnetic resonance imaging defecography, and endoanal ultrasonography, and the intensity of the symptoms may be scored by constipation degree or other anorectal symptoms. On the other hand, these professionals seldom or never use the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) classification. Differently, gynecologists recognize rectocele as a clinical finding of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). No special importance is given to rectal examination and to the necessity for differential diagnosis with other anorectal disorders.5 It seems to us that gynecologists investigate these patients in a more superficial fashion. Women generally present to gynecologists with other symptoms that are more relevant to them, such as urinary incontinence, and gynecologists in general apparently underestimate the clinical manifestations of rectocele in comparison to colorectal surgeons. There are two important questions that rise from this issue: is the training in ob-gyn residency programs adequate enough for approaching FPRS? Is there an adequate academic formation in colorectal surgery in ob-gyn residency programs? Efforts must be done to improve these possible flaws in the ob-gyn resident training program. However, there are points of convergence between specialistswhen the patient presents symptoms of the rectocele. Editorial