Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy: Resection or no resection? That is the question…

Excerpt

In Europe, laparoscopic ventral abdominal rectopexy is currently considered to be the gold standard for the surgical treatment of full-thickness external rectal prolapse and/or rectocele, associated with a lower rate of long-term recurrence (below 10 %), than perineal procedures [1]. However, many studies on conventional abdominal rectopexy (the Orr-Loygue procedure), with full dissection of the rectum, have reported a high risk of postoperative constipation, including both de novo constipation and worsening of preoperative transit disorder, with reported rates ranging from 30 to 50 % [2]. The cause of this postoperative constipation remains unclear, but nerve injuries during extensive posterior rectal mobilization leading to complete denervation might be involved. …