Laparoscopic Rectopexy; Is It Useful for Persistent Rectal Prolapse in Children?

Abstract

Introduction: Rectal prolapse is a relatively common, usually self-limiting illness in children. Peak incidence is between 1 and 3 years. The intervention is required for the persistent rectal prolapse (PRP). Only scanty experience is available with laparoscopic rectopexy in children. There is no available work using both mesh and suture laparoscopic rectopexy in literature. This work is unique that it presents our clinical experience with both mesh and suture laparoscopic rectopexy in children. This is a prospective clinical study for the outcome of laparoscopic rectopexy (LRP) by both mesh and suture technique in children with persistent rectal prolapse (PRP). Materials and Methods: Fourteen cases of PRP were managed with LRP from February 2008 to August 2012. Results: Of the 14 children, 10 (71.42%) were males and 4 (28.57%) were females. Male to female ratio was 2:1. The mean age of presentation was 5 years (range 3 - 8 years). The presenting complaints were mass descending per rectum along with bleeding per rectum lasting from 1 to 3 years. All had rectal prolapse of 5 - 7 cm in length. 12 out of 14 children had recurrence even after sclerotherapy before referral to laparoscopic rectpexy. The mean duration of surgery was 30 minutes (range 20 - 60 minutes). No intraoperative complications were reported; only one case got constipation and was managed conservatively and no recurrence. Conclusion: LRP is safe, feasible in children and gives satisfactory results after failure of all conservative even sclerotherapy injection.