[Surgical treatment of rectal prolapse with transanal resection according to Altemeier. Experience and results].

In recent years the number of patients with partial or total rectal prolapse has increased. Numerous techniques and surgical approaches have been described for its treatment. In this study we examine the main ones and stress the advantages of the transanal-perineal resection technique according to Altemeier and modified by Prasad, which we have used to treat the condition in the last 15 years. From 1988 to 2002, 269 patients with "haemorrhoidal prolapse" were referred to our department; 146 were females (54%), and the mean age was 58 years. Clinical examination and proctosigmoidoscopy revealed the presence of total rectal prolapse in 41 patients (15%, 32 F, 9 M), complicated in 4 cases by moderate incontinence and associated in 3 cases with post-haemorrhoidectomy stenosis. These 41 patients underwent transanal resection according to Altemeier. Thirty-four of them (83%) were operated on under local anaesthesia with sedation, 5 patients (12%) under peridural anaesthesia and 2 patients (5%) under narcosis. The mean hospital stay was 5 days and depended on the time of the first spontaneous evacuation. Check-ups were performed after 7 days, 1 months and every 3 months for 1 year. There was no postoperative mortality, and only 1 case of postoperative haemorrhage, which did not require reoperation, in a patient with a previous myocardial infarct who spontaneously continued to take salicylates up to 24 h before surgery. Thirty-three patients (80%) had their first postoperative evacuation within 48 h of surgery after taking sorbitol orally in the evening, 6 patients (15%) within 72 h, and 2 patients (5%) on postoperative day 4. No evacuative enemas were performed. We observed clinical healing in all patients 1 month after the operation, and regular, spontaneous evacuations without the use of oral laxatives. Stool or gas incontinence were never observed or reported. During the follow-up, only in 2% of cases did we observe partial recurrence of the prolapse. The choice between the numerous surgical techniques for correcting rectal prolapse, depends on the state of the disease, on the patient's general condition and on the surgeon's experience with the various techniques. The perineal approach proposed by Altemeier and modified by Prasad presents a low risk of mortality and immediate complications, as confirmed by our experience, even in high risk patients, and relatively easy execution. It would appear, moreover, to be the only technique capable of correcting the preoperative incontinence sometimes present.