Cap Polyposis: Further Experience and Review

PURPOSE: Cap polyposis is characterized by the presence of inflammatory polyps with a cap of granulation tissue. It may represent one end of a spectrum of conditions caused by chronic straining. This experience represents the second largest reported series of cap polyposis.METHODS: The case notes of all patients with histologically proven cap polyposis were reviewed retrospectively and clinicopathologic features identified. A MEDLINE search was performed from 1985 to 2002 using cap polyps, polyposis, and inflammatory polyp as key words and further hand search was undertaken of key references.RESULTS: Eleven cases (9 males; median age, 20 (range, 15–54 years) of cap polyposis were diagnosed between 1993 and 2002. The commonest presenting symptoms were rectal bleeding (82 percent) and mucous diarrhea (46 percent). Chronic straining at stool and constipation were noted in seven of these patients (64 percent). Digital rectal examinations revealed polypoidal masses in the rectum in four patients (36 percent). All patients underwent colonoscopy. The commonest site of involvement was in the lower rectum (82 percent). One patient had polyps in the sigmoid colon and one patient in the transverse colon. Of 11 patients, 2 defaulted follow-up after colonoscopy. Three patients with solitary polyps had complete resolution of symptoms after polypectomy and remained symptom-free at three-month follow-up. The remaining six patients had persistent symptoms and required surgical intervention. Four underwent anterior resection and were all symptom-free at median of 48 (range, 18–72) months after surgery. One patient had transanal excision of rectal polyps and had recurrence at three months after surgery. This patient refused further treatment and remains symptomatic to date. One patient presented with recurrence of polyps at the coloanal anastomosis soon after a pull-through procedure. Total colectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was performed and the patient was free of symptoms at four months after surgery.CONCLUSIONS: Cap polyposis is eminently treatable with good long-term prognosis and function. Patients with solitary cap polyp respond well to endoscopic polypectomy. However, patients with multiple polyps and concurrent anorectal pathology require surgical resection.Presented at the joint meeting: Leeds Castle Polyposis Group and International Collaborative Group Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer, Cleveland, Ohio, September 2 to 6, 2003.Reprints are not available.     

Hip Pain and Heart Failure: The Missing Link

A man presented with hypothyroidism, dilated cardiomyopathy, a pericardial effusion, liver failure, and polycythaemia. He had a history of bilateral hip replacements and new-onset hip pain. The patient progressed to develop shock. Given his acutely profound illness and constellation of symptoms, as well as the history of hip replacement, a diagnosis of cobalt toxicity was made.     

Rectal Prolapse in Children: Significance and Management

Rectal prolapse is a herniation of the rectum through the anus. It is rare in children. When it does occur, it is usually prior to 4 years of age and due to anatomical variants. A few conditions predispose children to rectal prolapse, the most common being constipation. Cystic fibrosis used to be commonly associated with rectal prolapse, but with the advent of cystic fibrosis newborn screening, this association is no longer as frequently seen. Many recent case reports, detailed in this chapter, describe conditions previously unknown to be associated with rectal prolapse. Management is usually supportive; however, rectal prolapse requires surgical management in certain situations. This review details the presentation of rectal prolapse, newly described clinical manifestations, and associated conditions, and up-to-date medical and surgical management.     

Rectal Cap Polyposis Masquerading as Ulcerative Colitis with Pseudopolyposis and Presenting as Chronic Anemia: A Case Study with Review of Literature

Cap polyposis (CP) is an under recognized form of non-neoplastic colonic polyps, characterised by the presence of inflammatory polyps with a distinct “cap” of granulation tissue. CP is often seen masquerading as chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The most common symptoms are mucoid diarrhoea, bloody stools, abdominal pain, and tenesmus. In this case report, we present a patient who was diagnosed with CP during the investigation of unexplained chronic long standing anemia secondary to intermittent rectal bleeding. CP, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with intermittent rectal bleeding and mucoid diarrhoea.     

Overt Rectal Prolapse and Fecal Incontinence

PURPOSE  Rectal prolapse is frequently associated with fecal incontinence; however, the relationship is questionable. The study was designed to evaluate fecal incontinence in a large consecutive series of patients who suffered from rectal prolapse, focusing on both past history, anal physiology, and imaging. METHODS  Eighty-eight consecutive patients who suffered from an overt rectal prolapse (72 women, 16 men; mean age, 51.1 ± 19.5 years) as a main symptom were analyzed; 48 patients also experienced fecal incontinence compared with 40 without incontinence. Logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS  The two groups of patients did not differ with respect to parity, weekly stool frequency, main duration of symptoms before referral, occurrence of dyschezia, and digital help to defecate. Patients with prolapse who were older than 45 years (odds ratio (OR), 4.51 (1.49–13.62); P = 0.007) and those with a past history of hemorrhoidectomy (OR, 9.05 (1.68–48.8); P = 0.01) were significantly more incontinent. Incontinent group showed frequent internal anal sphincter defect compared with the continent group (60 vs. 6.2 percent; P = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS  In patients with overt rectal prolapse, the occurrence of fecal incontinence needs special consideration for age and previous hemorrhoid surgery as causative factors. Anal weakness and sphincter defects are frequently observed.     

Perineal Stapled Prolapse Resection: A New Procedure for External Rectal Prolapse

Purpose

A perineal approach to treating rectal prolapse is ideal for frail patients. Recently, internal rectal redundancy has been successfully treated with transanal resection using the Contour® Transtar? stapler. This technique has been modified to the perineal stapled prolapse resection. The surgical technique and the preliminary results of the new procedure for external rectal prolapse are presented.

Methods

Patients not suited for transabdominal treatment were included prospectively for perineal stapled prolapse resection in two colorectal centers. Feasibility, complications, and reinterventions were assessed.

Results

In 14 of 15 patients, perineal stapled prolapse resection was performed without complications in a median operating time of 33 (range, 22–52) minutes. One procedure was changed to an Altemeier because of a staple line disruption. Two patients required reintervention as a result of postoperative hemorrhage. No other severe complications occurred. At follow-up, all patients were well and showed no early recurrence of prolapse.

Conclusions

Perineal stapled prolapse resection is a new surgical procedure for external rectal prolapse, which is easy and quick to perform. Functional results and long-term recurrence rate must be investigated further.

     

Laparoscopic Resection Rectopexy for Rectal Prolapse

INTRODUCTION The laparoscopic approach in suture rectopexy with sigmoid resection is appealing as surgery is mainly confined to the pelvis. METHODS The procedure is performed in modified lithotomy position using five trocars. In the case reported, the inferior mesenteric artery is divided distally to the left colic artery branch. The sigmoid colon is mobilized medially and may be mobilized laterally up to the descending colon, depending on the extent of resection. The splenic flexure remains in place. The rectum is mobilized from the presacral fascia down to the pelvic floor, sparing the hypogastric nerves. The rectum is transected in its upper third and the colonic stump pulled outside after enlarging the left lower abdominal incision to a length of 5 cm. The colorectal anastomosis is established intracorporeally in a double-stapling technique. Three 2-0 braided nonabsorbable sutures are placed to attach the right lateral stalks of the rectum to the presacral fascia. Proctoscopic examination has to ensure that there is no luminal compromise or air leakage. RESULTS The videotape reports about a 37-year-old male patient with a rectal prolapse of 8 cm in length. First symptoms had occurred in childhood. He reported about temporary constipation and repeated rectal bleeding. During surgery, an elongated sigmoid was found. Laparoscopic sigmoid resection and suture rectopexy were carried out. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the sixth postoperative day. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic resection rectopexy is safely feasible as a minimally-invasive treatment option for rectal prolapse.     

Management of Rectal Prolapse in Children

PURPOSE Rectal prolapse in children is not uncommon and usually is a self-limiting condition in infancy. Most cases respond to conservative management; however, surgery is occasionally required in cases that are intractable to conservative treatment. This study was designed to analyze the outcomes of rectal prolapse in children and to propose a pathway for the management of these cases in children.METHODS A retrospective analysis of all cases of rectal prolapse referred to our surgical unit during a period of five years was performed. End point was recurrence of prolapse requiring manual reduction under sedation or an anesthetic. Results are presented as median (range) and statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared test; P < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS A total of 49 children (25 males) presented with symptoms of rectal prolapse at a median age of 2.6 years (range, 4 months –10.6 years). All children received an initial period of conservative treatment with watchful expectancy and/or laxatives. Twenty-five patients were managed conservatively without any additional procedures (Group A), and 24 patients had one or more interventions, such as injection sclerotherapy, Thiersch procedure, anal stretch, banding of prolapse, and rectopexy (Group B). Management of rectal prolapse was successful with no recurrences in 24 patients (96 percent) in Group A vs. 15 patients (63 percent) in Group B at a median follow-up period of 14 (range, 2–96) months. An underlying condition was found in 84 percent of patients in Group A vs. 54 percent in Group B (P = 0.024). The age at presentation was younger than four years in 88 percent of patients in Group A vs. 58 percent in Group B (P = 0.019).CONCLUSIONS Rectal prolapse in children does respond to conservative management. A decision to operate is based on age of patient, duration of conservative management, and frequency of recurrent prolapse (>2 episodes requiring manual reduction) along with symptoms of pain, rectal bleeding, and perianal excoriation because of recurrent prolapse. Those cases presenting younger than four years of age and with an associated condition have a better prognosis. The authors propose an algorithm for the management of rectal prolapse in children.     

Experience with Laparoscopic Rectopexy for Rectal Prolapse

Abstract: A 48-year old man was admitted to our hospital for rectal prolapse and anal bleeding. A diagnosis of type III complete rectal prolapse with two carcinomatous lesions had been made, based on examinations at his hospitalization. However, he refused abdominoperineal resection with colostomy, despite the probability of death due to carcinoma. Therefore, per anal local excision of the lesions was the method of first choice, as the patient hoped to maintain fecal continence for as long as possible. At the second operation, the rectum was fully mobilized with great care, so as to avoid injuring the testicular vessels, ureter and seminal vesicle, under laparoscopic control. The mobilized rectum was wrapped in a sheet of Teflon mesh which was fixed to the presacral fascia, and the rectum was fixed to the mesh by suturing. The front side of the rectum was not sutured to the Teflon mesh, with the aim of preventing subsequent stricture. There were no perioperative complications and the postoperative course was uneventful. Laparoscopic rectopexy for rectal prolapse is thought to be effective and worthy of trial in special situations such as that of the patient described herein.     

Management of Recurrent Rectal Prolapse: Surgical Approach Influences Outcome

Introduction Recurrent rectal prolapse is an unresolved problem and the optimal treatment is debated. This study was designed to review patterns of care and outcomes in a large cohort of patients after surgery for recurrent prolapse. Methods From 685 patients who underwent operative repair for full-thickness external rectal prolapse, we identified 78 patients (70 females; mean age, 66.9 years) who underwent surgery for recurrence. We reviewed the subsequent management and outcomes for these 78 patients. Results Mean interval to their first recurrence was 33 (range, 1–168) months. There were significantly more re-recurrences after reoperation using a perineal procedure (19/51) compared with an abdominal procedure (4/27) for their recurrent rectal prolapse (P = 0.03) at a mean follow-up of nine (range, 1–82) months. Patients undergoing abdominal repair of recurrence were significantly younger than those who underwent perineal repair (mean age, 58.5 vs. 71.5 years; P < 0.01); however, there was nosignificant difference between the two groups with regard to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (P = 0.89). Eighteen patients had surgery for a second recurrence, with perineal repairs associated with higher failure rates (50 vs. 8 percent; P = 0.07). Finally, when combining all repairs, the abdominal approach continued to have significantly lower recurrence rates (39 vs. 13 percent; P < 0.01). Conclusions The re-recurrence rate after surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse is high, even at a relatively short follow-up interval. Our data suggest that abdominal repair of recurrent rectal prolapse should be undertaken if the patient's risk profile permits this approach. Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 30 to May 5, 2005.     

External Pelvic Rectal Suspension (The Express Procedure) for Full-Thickness Rectal Prolapse: Evolution of a New Technique

OBJECTIVE The Délormes operation for rectal prolapse is a safe procedure but has a high recurrence rate. We aimed to develop an operation akin to it, but designed to reduce this deficit.PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-one consecutive patients with rectal prolapse were included in the study. Initially, a conventional Délormes procedure was performed and sutures or strips of Gore-Tex® were attached circumferentially to the apex of the prolapse, tunneled subcutaneously, and anchored to the external surface of the pelvis. Subsequently, the procedure was modified. Acellular porcine collagen strips were used and buried within the apex without plication of the denuded rectal musculature. Patients were formally assessed preoperatively and four months postoperatively by symptom and quality of life questionnaires and subsequently by regular clinical review.RESULTS In the Gore-Tex® group (N = 11; males:females = 10:1; mean age, 61 years) three patients underwent suture repair and eight had strip fixation. All suture repairs developed sepsis and one patient had a recurrence. Seven of the strip fixations (88 percent) developed sepsis that resulted in implant extrusion. There was one full-thickness and one mucosal recurrence after a median follow-up of 25 months. In the collagen group (N = 20; males:females = 2:18; mean age, 63 years), sepsis occurred in four patients, requiring surgical intervention in one patient (5 percent) (cf Gore-Tex® group, P = 0.002). There was one mucosal and three full-thickness (15 percent) recurrences after a median follow-up of 14 months (cf Gore-Tex® group, P = not significant). Significant improvements in symptom and quality of life scores were recorded in both groups at four months.CONCLUSION A new, minimally invasive perineal procedure for rectal prolapse has been developed and initial data testify to its relative safety provided collagen is used. It remains to be seen whether long-term recurrence rates will be lower than those of conventional perineal procedures.© The American Society of Colon and Rectal SurgeonsPublished online: 28 January 2005.Presented at the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, July 7 to 10, 2003.     

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence in Women With Surgically Managed Rectal Prolapse: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of genital prolapse surgery and urinary incontinence in female patients operated on for rectal prolapse compared with a matched control group without rectal prolapse. Methods Fifty-two patients with a history of abdominal rectal prolapse surgery and 200 randomly selected age-matched and gender-matched control subjects without rectal prolapse received an extensive health care history survey. Results Response rate in the patient group was 48 of 52 (92 percent) and 165 of 200 (82 percent) in the control group. Rectal prolapse was associated with an increased risk of surgery for uterine prolapse (odds ratio = 3.1; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.4–6.9) and vaginal wall prolapse (odds ratio = 3.2; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.3–7.8). Mean age at hysterectomy because of uterine prolapse was 54.7 years in the patient group compared with 62.6 years in the control group (P < 0.01). Mean age at vaginal wall prolapse surgery was 60.2 years in the patient group compared with 66.6 years in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the cohorts regarding prevalence or age at debut of urinary incontinence. Conclusion Our results indicate a strong association between rectal and genital prolapse surgery suggesting that diagnosis of rectal prolapse necessitating surgical intervention should prompt a multidisciplinary pelvic floor assessment. Read at the meeting of The European Association of ColoProctology, Barcelona, Spain, September 18 to 20, 2003.