Abstract

ABSTRACT:Forty-eight patients with rectal prolapse were seen at Ochner Clinic from 1955 to 1977. The charts of these patients were reviewed to assess the treatment and to evalluate a suggested association between rectal prolapsr and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Since 1970 the Ripstein sling procedure has been used exclusively to treat those patients with rectal prolapse who are able to undergo a transabdominal procedure. We compared the results of this proceduce with the ones formerly used: peroneal (Altemeier), sigmoidectomy, and Thiersch procedures. Although the earlier operations for rectal prolapse were associated with either a high recurrence or a high complocation rate, the Ripstein has both a low recurrence and a low mornidity rate: two patients had recurrence and two had the sling appiled too tightly. The Ripstein procedure was shown to be an effective, safe procedure questioned. Regarding the association of rectal ulcer prolapse, we found that, although the symptoms of the solitary rectal ulcer symdrome and rectal prolapse are similar, they appear to represent a different response to the same stimulus, and the syndrome is relatively unabated by repair.