Objective: An 'occult' rectal prolapse may be diagnosed during investigation of altered bowel habit. It has been suggested that the outcome of surgery for these patients may be associated with results that are inferior to those achieved in patients with overt rectal prolapse. This study compares the results of surgery for 'occult' and overt rectal prolapse in terms of mortality, morbidity and change in bowel habit.
Patients and methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of consecutive patients undergoing surgery for rectal prolapse during the decade 1988-98. Resection rectopexy was the treatment of choice except in patients with faecal incontinence who underwent sutured rectopexy. Those patients who were unfit for an abdominal operation were offered a perineal procedure. Outcome measures were mortality, morbidity, prolapse recurrence, constipation and faecal incontinence. Data were retrieved from case note review, clinical assessment, telephone consultation or postal questionnaire.
Results: Rectal prolapse surgery was undertaken in 69 patients with an overt prolapse and 74 patients with an 'occult' prolapse. Patients in the 'occult' prolapse group were significantly younger than those with overt prolapse (P = 0.0002). There were significantly more perineal procedures in the overt prolapse group compared with the 'occult' prolapse group (54% vs 5%, P = 0.0001). There were no deaths within 28 days of surgery. Major surgical complications occurred in 5 patients (3.5%). Seven patients (10%) experienced recurrent prolapse. Rectal prolapse surgery reduced the incidence of St. Mark's grade 4 faecal incontinence from 38% to 19% in the overt prolapse group (P = 0.023) and from 49% to 22% in the 'occult' prolapse group (P < 0.001). Following surgery the incidence of constipation increased in the 'occult' group from 39% to 50% but decreased in the overt prolapse group from 42% to 35%.
Conclusions: Surgery for an 'occult' rectal prolapse is unlikely to benefit patients whose principle symptom is constipation. Approximately half of those patients whose 'occult' rectal prolapse is associated with faecal incontinence will have their bowel habit improved by prolapse surgery.