Functional results after posterior abdominal rectopexy for rectal prolapse.

One hundred sixty-five cases of abdominal rectopexy using polypropylene (Marlex) mesh for rectal prolapse were reviewed. Six patients were men and 159 were women. Thirty patients have not been evaluated after surgery, 22 having died of interrecurrent disease and 8 have had their surgery during the last two months. Incontinence was observed in 95 patients (58 per cent) before surgery, whereas it persisted in only 21 of 135 patients (16 percent) after surgery. Forty patients (24 percent) claimed constipation before surgery, whereas 60 of 135 patients (44 percent) had constipation after rectopexy. Recurrence of full-thickness rectal prolapse was found in only 2 patients-(1.5 percent). Mucosal prolapse occurred in 9 patients (7 percent) after surgery. These results indicate that abdominal posterior rectopexy using Marlex mesh is an effective operation for rectal prolapse, but persistent incontinence occurs in one third of patients and almost half become constipated after the procedure.