Surgical Management of Complete Rectal Prolapse

through the anal canal. Precisely how a complete rectal prolapse develops is not thoroughly understood. Possible etiologies include a defect of the pelvic floor, redundant rectosigmoid colon, deep Douglas pouch, gender (female), psychiatric problems and nulliparity. Pathogenesis may involve a sliding hernia or a circumferential intussusception. Treatment of rectal prolapse can involve a variety of approaches, based on resection of redundant colonic or rectal walls, repair of the pelvic defect and fixation of the lateral rectal wall to presacral fascia (rectopexy). Despite the availability of these different techniques, recurrence of complete rectal prolapse after surgery still occurs, and the proper surgical approach for recurrent rectal prolapse remains undetermined. The objective of the presently reported study was to review our experience in the surgical management of complete rectal prolapse over a recent 10 year period (1997-2006) to more accurately define proper J Soc Colon Rectal Surgeon (Taiwan) December 2007