LONG-TERM RESULTS OF SUTURE RECTOPEXY IN PATIENTS WITH FECAL INCONTINENCE ASSOCIATED WITH INCOMPLETE RECTAL PROLAPSE

Suture rectopexy is the recommended therapy fur complete rectal prolap se that is associated with fecal incontinence. It has been suggested t hat correction of an incomplete rectal prolapse is also worthwhile for patients with fecal incontinence. PURPOSE: Aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the clinical outcome of suture rectopexy in a consecutive series of patients with incomplete rectal prolapse associated with fe cal incontinence, and 2) to compare these results with those obtained from patients with complete rectal prolapse. METHODS: Between 1979 and 1994, suture rectopexy was performed in 13 incontinent patients (3 ma les, median age, 65 (range, 45-77) years) with incomplete rectal prola pse (Group I) and in 24 incontinent patients (21 females; median age, 71 (range, 24-86) years) with complete rectal prolapse (Group II). RES ULTS: After a median follow-up of 67 months, continence was restored i n 5 of 13 (38 percent) patients with incomplete rectal prolapse and in 16 of 24 (67 percent) patients with complete rectal prolapse. In both groups, all male patients became continent. CONCLUSIONS: For the majo rity of incontinent patients with incomplete rectal prolapse, a suture rectopexy is not beneficial. The clinical outcome of this procedure i s only good in incontinent patients with complete rectal prolapse. Ras ed on these data, it is questionable whether incomplete rectal prolaps e plays a causative role in fecal incontinence.