Rectal prolapse

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Rectal prolapse

Rectal prolapse repair - series

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Rectal prolapse

Treatment:

Call your health care provider if a rectal prolapse occurs. In some cases, the prolapse can be treated at home.

The rectal mucosa must be returned to the rectum manually. A soft, warm, wet cloth is used to apply gentle pressure to the mass to push it back through the anal opening. The affected person should be in a knee-chest position before applying pressure to allow gravity to help return the prolapse.

Immediate surgery for repair is seldom needed. The underlying condition must be treated.

Expectations (prognosis):

Treating the underlying condition usually cures the problem. In otherwise-healthy elderly patients with recurrent rectal prolapse, surgery can repair anatomic problems that predispose them to prolapse.

Complications:

Constipation
Malnutrition or malabsorption
Other complications of the condition that caused the prolapse

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider promptly if there is a rectal prolapse.

Review Date: 7/14/2004
Reviewed By: Norman S. Kato, MD, Surgeon with the Cardiac Care Medical Group, Encino, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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