Clinical utility of sclerotherapy with a new agent for treatment of rectal prolapse in patients with risks.

BACKGROUND

Perineal approaches are widely applied for the treatment of rectal prolapse. Recently, less-invasive treatments such as sclerotherapy using aluminum potassium sulfate/tannic acid (ALTA) have been introduced for internal hemorrhoids. Herein, we report the results of ALTA injection for the treatment of rectal prolapse in high-risk patients.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and March 2011, we performed ALTA injection sclerosing therapy in 12 female patients with high risk for preoperative complications. Using the perineal approach, 0.5 to 1 mL of ALTA was injected into the submucosa at 30 to 60 different sites.

RESULTS

All patients were successfully treated without any operative or postoperative morbidity. Average operation time took 35±7 (mean±SD) minutes, and average volume of ALTA injected was 39±6 mL per patient. Neither complaints of bleeding nor findings of anal stenosis were noted. A slight degree of recurrence of prolapse developed in a patient after 8 months. The patient required an additional injection to be cured.

CONCLUSIONS

ALTA injection could be administered for the treatment of rectal prolapse without any pain or complication and would be useful even for patients with risks due to preoperative complications and/or medical history.