Internal Procidentia of the Rectum — Treatment and Results

Abstract

Thirty-nine patients, 34 women and 5 men, with internal procidentia have been studied regarding symptomatology and results of treatment. Nineteen women have been operated upon. The most common indication for operation was anal incontinence. Twenty patients have been treated conservatively with bulk laxatives. In the operated group, 11 were symptom-free, 5 had recurrences, 2 had unchanged symptoms and one patient was worse because of rectovaginal fistula. The 5 recurrences were operated upon according to the techniques of Graham and Moschcowitz (4, 5). One of the conservatively treated patients developed a rectal prolapse in the followup period.

Key-words:

• Incontinence
• internal procidentia
• rectal prolapse
• rectum
• symptoms
• treatment