Treatment of Rectal Prolapse in Israel

Rectal prolapse is a pathological process in which the rectum falls out of the anal ring.

Causes

Rectal prolapse can occur due to the following factors:

• Frequent lifting of bulky and heavy objects
• Sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure
• Male gender and age over 40 years
• Prolonged labor
• Chronic cough
• Frequent sneezing
• Various tumors or polyps of the rectum
• Genetic predisposition to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles and the anal sphincter.

Diagnosis of Rectal Prolapse in Israel

Patients most often seek help when they manifest the following symptoms:

• Constant or sudden rectal prolapse from the anal ring;
• False urges to defecate;
• Patients report a pulling pain in the area of the anus and lower abdomen;
• Sometimes there is bleeding from the rectal mucosa;
• In advanced stages of the disease, infection of the intestinal wall and development of inflammatory complications may occur.

At the leading clinic in Israel, Ichilov, patients will undergo a series of progressive diagnostic procedures:

• Standard proctological digital examination
• Irrigoscopy – X-ray examination of the colon using contrast
• Recto-sigmoidoscopy – examination of the rectal mucosa
• Colonoscopy – to detect polyps, tumors, or diverticulosis of the colon
• Electromyography
• Anoscopy
• Anorectal manometry – assessment of anal muscle tone and their involvement in the defecation process
• Fibrocolonoscopy
• Sphincter manometry
• X-ray examination of the pelvic bones.

In addition to taking a medical history and conducting diagnostics to confirm the diagnosis of rectal prolapse, detailed consultations with leading specialists in proctology, surgery, and anesthesiology at Ichilov are scheduled for the patient.

Treatment of Rectal Prolapse in Israel

Conservative treatment does not guarantee complete recovery. The most effective treatment for rectal prolapse in Israel is surgical intervention.

At Ichilov, patients will have access to a choice of surgical techniques:

1. Transrectal access;
2. Laparoscopic surgery. This method of surgical intervention at Ichilov has several undeniable advantages. First of all, it is minimally invasive for patients. The incisions made by the surgeon are very small, allowing them to heal quickly and not leave a cosmetic defect in the form of a scar. At the same time, patients recover very quickly after such surgery, and the risk of complications approaches zero.

Gentle surgical methods may be used:

1. Resection of part of the rectum. This is most often used to treat pathology in elderly patients. The surgeon removes the section of the intestine that has lost its functionality;
2. Suspension of the prolapsed rectum. This technique can only be performed if the rectum is not deformed. During the surgical intervention, the rectum is sutured to the anterior aponeurosis of the oblique abdominal muscle or to the sacrum. Fixation is done using the sigmoid colon;
3. Plastic surgery of the anal canal and pelvic floor. This involves simultaneous suturing of the intestine to the muscles or pelvic bones. A flat polymer mesh is often used for reinforcement.