Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy in an elderly population with external rectal prolapse: clinical and anal manometric results

We report the clinical and anal manometric results of elderly patients treated with laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) for full-thickness rectal prolapse.

From March 2009 to June 2012, patients were consecutively included. A modified laparoscopic Orr-Loygue procedure with posterior mobilisation was used. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, 2 months postoperatively and after 1 year. We registered Wexner incontinence scores and laxative uses by a questionnaire and performed simple anal manometry.

A total of 46 patients underwent operation, all women. The median age was 83 years (range 34–99), median prolapse size was 8 cm (range 2–15), and 30 % had previous prolapse surgery. The median operative time was 135 min (range 90–215), and the median length of stay was 2 days (range 1–14). The 30-day morbidity rate was 15 %, and there were two (4 %) deaths within 30 days. There was a significant reduction in incontinence scores after 2 months and 1 year. The anal resting pressures improved from 10 cm H₂O slightly to 16 cm H₂O after 2 months, significantly, and still significant after 1 year at 13 cm H₂O. There were no changes in the use of laxatives. The median follow-up time was 1.5 years (range 0.5–3), and there were two prolapse recurrences (4 %) in this period.

Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy with posterior mobilisation seems to be effective and relatively well tolerated, although not without mortality in elderly debilitated patients. It improves incontinence. With increased life-year expectance, these patients may benefit from a lower risk of recurrence compared with perineal procedures.