Acute and chronic benign ulcers of the rectum.

In managing 21 patients with benign ulcers of the rectum, there were seven patients with acute bleeding ulcers and two with acute rectal necrosis. Acute, bleeding ulcers of the rectum are associated with serious illness or injury, similar to those thought to cause stress ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. Rectal prolapse, complete or incomplete, is the condition most commonly associated with chronic, benign ulcers of the rectum. Repair of the rectal prolapse was successful treatment. Two patients had a tight muscular stenosis at the anorectal ring. This appeared to be a causative factor as complete healing occurred after myotomy.