Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Rectal prolapse repair is surgery to fix a rectal prolapse.
This is a condition in which the last part of the intestine called the rectum sticks out through the anus. Rectal prolapse may be partial, involving only the inner lining of the bowel mucosa. Or, it may be complete, involving the entire wall of the rectum. For most adults, surgery is used to repair the rectum because there is no other effective treatment. Children with rectal prolapse do not always need surgery, unless their prolapse does not improve over time.
In infants, prolapse often disappears without treatment. Most surgical procedures for rectal prolapse are done under general anesthesia. For older or sicker people, epidural or spinal anesthesia may be used. There are three basic types of surgery to repair rectal prolapse. Your surgeon will decide which one is best for you.
For healthy adults, an abdominal procedure has the best chance of success. While you are under general anesthesia, your surgeon makes a cut in the abdomen and removes a portion of the colon.
The rectum may be attached sutured to the surrounding tissue so it will not slide and fall out through the anus. Sometimes, a soft piece of mesh is wrapped around the rectum to help it stay in place. These procedures can also be done with laparoscopic surgery. For older adults or those with other medical problems, an approach through the anus perineal approach might be less risky.
