Perineal approaches for the treatment of complete rectal prolapse.

Perineal approaches for rectal prolapse are particularly useful in high-risk patients or in patients presenting with strangulation. Each technique is useful in certain clinical situations. Altemeier's procedure, with the addition of rectopexy and levatorplasty (Dis Colon Rectum 29: 547-552, 1986) may be the best available perineal operation for long-term correction of prolapse and treatment of associated incontinence.