Mesh invasion of the rectum: an unusual late complication of rectal prolapse repair.

Various surgical techniques have been described for repair of rectal prolapse; however, there is no agreement on a standard treatment method. In the Ripstein procedure, the rectum is fixed to the sacrum with a piece of mesh material. We describe the case of a patient who had undergone a Ripstein procedure to address rectal prolapse 6 years before admission to our clinic. His complaints were anal discomfort, abdominal discomfort, and tenesmus of 2 years duration. Rectoscopy and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed that the mesh had penetrated the rectal wall and was located within the rectal lumen 7-8 cm from the anal verge. Once the mesh was endoscopically, and the patient's symptoms resolved completely. Various complications of mesh implantation for rectal prolapse repair have been documented, but rectal wall penetration has not been reported to date. This report presents our case of this unusual complication and reviews the relevant literature.