Benign proctology,Surgical technique
- Transperineal rectocele repair is ideal for patients presenting with fecal incontinence
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Marie Shella De Robles, Christopher J. Young
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Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(5):376-379. Published online October 19, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2021.00157.0022
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Abstract
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- Purpose
Rectocele can be associated with both obstructed defecation and fecal incontinence. There exists a great variety of operative techniques to treat patients with rectocele. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome in a consecutive series of patients who underwent transperineal repair of rectocele when presenting with fecal incontinence as the predominant symptom.
Methods
Twenty-three consecutive patients from April 2000 to July 2015 with symptomatic rectocele underwent transperineal repair by a single surgeon.
Results
All patients had a history of vaginal delivery, with or without evidence of associated anal sphincter injury at the time. The median age of the cohort was 53 years (range, 21–90 years). None were fully continent preoperatively. However, continence improved to just rare mucus soiling or loss of flatus in all patients 6 months after their surgery. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications including urinary retention and wound dehiscence occurred in 3 patients.
Conclusion
Fecal incontinence associated with rectocele is multifactorial and may be caused by preexisting anal sphincteric damage and attenuation. Our experience suggests that transperineal repair provides excellent anatomic and physiologic results with minimal morbidity in selected patients presenting with combined rectocele and anal sphincter defect.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- IUGA Opinion Paper on Obstructed Defecation: Management of Clinical and Proctographic Rectoceles
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