Postoperative complications and long-term functional outcome in children operated for idiopathic rectal prolapse.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the postoperative complications and the long-term gastrointestinal functional outcome after surgical treatment for rectal prolapse on a strategy with stapled anopexy for short (< 5cm) prolapse and Delormes procedure for longer (> 5cm) rectal prolapse. A total of 38 patients were included with a postoperative follow-up period ranging from 1month to 9.1years. Thirty patients (83%) completed the Rome III questionnaire on gastrointestinal function, with the follow-up period ranging from 2months to 7years. Thirty-five patients were treated with stapled anopexy as a primary surgical treatment. One minor complication with slight postoperative bleeding was observed, but the recurrence rate was 34.3%. Treatment of recurrence with re-stapling gave success rate of 44.4%. Ten patients (3 primary and 7 with recurrence after stapled anopexy) were treated with Delormes procedure with no observed complications or recurrence. Four out of nineteen patients treated with stapled anopexy fulfilled the criteria for functional gastrointestinal symptoms and in 3 out of 8 treated with Delormes procedure. No patients reported continence problems. The recurrence rate for stapled anopexy was high and none with Delormes procedure. The functional outcome was comparable with a healthy population of children.