Laparoscopic-assisted abdominoperineal proctosigmoidectomy for rectal prolapse

The inability to completely mobilize the redundant colon in perineal rectosigmoidectomy (Altemeier's procedure) for full-thickness rectal prolapse is a main contributor to the recurrence rate associated with the procedure. However, the presence of a redundant sigmoid after the Ripstein procedure or other rectal sling operations is the main cause of the high rate of postoperative constipation and stool impaction. Low anterior resection as the definitive treatment is associated with the higher morbidity of laparotomy and the risk of anastomotic leak. We describe a laparoscopic-assisted surgical approach which combines the benefits of completely resecting the redundant sigmoid colon as well as the performance of extraperitoneal anastomosis at the level of the anus. Received: 22 April 1996/Accepted: 16 May 1996