Surgery for rectal prolapse

What is rectal prolapse?

It is a condition which commonly affects women particularly the elderly and those with an obstetric history. This condition is also seen in men but less frequently. It can manifest itself as awareness of the prolapse itself or indirectly with problems of faecal soiling and or difficulty in bowel evacuation, rectal bleeding.

How can rectal prolapse be treated?

There are a number of operations that could be carried out for rectal prolapse. The choices available depend on the individual patient and the type of prolapse and the patient’s general health. The approach could be abdominal (open/laparoscopic) or through the perineum (from below).  It does usually involve a general anaesthesia but there are some occasions depending on the approach when spinal anaesthesia is possible.

What does a typical recovery involve?

The average hospital stay could be anything from 24 hours to 1 week depending on the route of approach. Patients normally need to take 2 weeks off work but could resume routine day to day activity within 2 to 3 days following discharge from the hospital. The most common approach is either laparoscopic or perineal (from below) and therefore recovery is reasonably quick.