Anal surgery – under anaesthesia, the surgeon gently pulls out the prolapsed bowel through the anus. The prolapsed section of bowel is usually removed and the structural damage repaired. The bowel is rejoined and returned back through the anus to restore normal bowel function and appearance.
Recovery at home
You might need to keep taking your pain medicines and laxatives when you go home. Recovery will be different for everyone, and can take 4 to 6 weeks.
A rectal prolapse can be treated by surgery called a perineal repair (Delorme's operation or Altemeier procedure). During surgery, the lining of the bowel, or the section of bowel that has prolapsed, is removed and stitched back together.
If left untreated, a rectal prolapse is likely to get larger and come out more easily. Symptoms such as incontinence (losing control of your bowels) will keep getting worse.
While rectal prolapse may cause pain, it's rarely a medical emergency. Rectal prolapse is sometimes treated with stool softeners, suppositories and other medicines. But surgery is usually needed to treat rectal prolapse.
This surgery is usually for women with a stage three or stage four prolapse or who have already had a hysterectomy. It may also be an option for younger women with a prolapsed uterus that don't want to have a hysterectomy.
Conditions and activities that can cause or contribute to small bowel prolapse or other types of prolapse include: Pregnancy and childbirth. Chronic constipation or straining with bowel movements. Chronic cough or bronchitis.
It can be the womb (uterus), bowel, bladder or top of the vagina. A prolapse is not life threatening, but it can cause pain and discomfort. Symptoms can usually be improved with pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle changes, but sometimes medical treatment is needed.
What does a rectocele feel like to touch? Your rectocele may be so slight that you can't feel it. If the prolapse is more pronounced, it may feel like a bulge or lump in the back wall of your vagina. You can insert a (clean) finger or two to feel for a rectocele.
Pelvic organ prolapse doesn't necessarily get worse over time, and you may not need treatment if the symptoms are not affecting your daily life. Nonsurgical treatments for pelvic organ prolapse can reduce the pain and pressure of mild-to-moderate prolapse and preserve fertility if the uterus is prolapsed.
Rectal prolapse is a condition in which the rectum (the last part of the large intestine before it exits the anus) becomes detached inside the body, allowing it to turn inside out and protrude from the anus. Rectal prolapse may be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but rarely results in a medical emergency.
The length of operative time for laparoscopic colposuspension can vary greatly (3-5 hours) from patient to patient depending on the internal anatomy, shape of the pelvis, weight of the patient, and presence of scarring or inflammation in the pelvis due to infection or prior abdominal/pelvic surgery.
Consider surgery if the prolapse is causing pain, if you are having problems with your bladder and bowels, or if the prolapse is making it hard for you to do activities you enjoy. An organ can prolapse again after surgery. Surgery in one part of your pelvis can make a prolapse in another part worse.
Pain after Prolapse Surgery
You will experience cramping or pressure in your pelvic area after your surgery. Most people experience this pain for about two weeks, but it may last up to six weeks. If you have an abdominal incision, you may have pain around the incision as it heals.
Rectal prolapse is more common in people age 50 and older. Women are more likely to have the condition than men. Younger people with the condition often have chronic health conditions and take several medicines.
A feeling of pressure or a bulge in your anus. A feeling like there's something left inside your anus after you poop. A red, fleshy mass hanging out of your anus. Leakage of mucus, poop or blood from your anus.
To find rectal prolapse and rule out other related health problems, your health care provider may suggest: Digital rectal exam. Your health care provider places a gloved and lubricated finger into your rectum to check the strength of your sphincter muscles and to check for any problems in the rectal area.
If you have pelvic organ prolapse, avoid things that could make it worse. That means don't lift, strain, or pull.
Rectal prolapse often goes away on its own. It can be treated at home through increased water intake and a change in diet that includes more fruit, vegetables and fibrous foods. But if a person's condition does not improve, surgery may be recommended.
Will Sex Feel the Same for My Partner? It is very difficult for anyone who's not a gynaecologist to see or feel a prolapse. You may feel like it's the most prominent part of your body because you are so focused on it at the moment, but rest assured that your partner will be far more interested in the rest of your body.
Colonoscopy or anoscopy should be performed in patients who present with rectal prolapse to ensure there is no mass or polyp constituting a lead point for intussusception with rectal prolapse.
Rectal prolapse can result in constipation, as it can cause a blockage of the anal opening. The prolapse can stretch the anal sphincter muscles and cause anal leakage (fecal incontinence).