Which department to consult for rectal prolapse?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 19, 2024
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Rectal prolapse is generally divided into internal mucosal prolapse and external prolapse. External mucosal prolapse is commonly known as rectal prolapse, which falls under the category of proctological diseases. Therefore, patients who suspect they have rectal prolapse should promptly visit a proctology department for relevant examinations and treatment. The examination and diagnosis of rectal prolapse mainly involve digital rectal examination, anoscopy, and defecography to confirm the diagnosis. Especially for internal mucosal prolapse, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, defecography is necessary for differentiation. In cases of rectal prolapse, one can generally see a ring-like protrusion outside the anus, and in severe cases, there may be conical or cylindrical prolapse. Regardless of whether it is internal mucosal prolapse or rectal prolapse, surgical treatment is necessary.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can rectal prolapse heal itself?

Rectal mucosal prolapse primarily refers to a condition where the rectal mucosa becomes excessively relaxed, accumulates near the anus, and presents symptoms such as a distinct feeling of fullness and downward pressure at the anal area. Sometimes, the prolapsed mucosa may congest the anal opening, causing difficulty in defecation or even constipation. Rectal mucosal prolapse cannot heal completely on its own. Treatment options include medication to alleviate symptoms or surgery to remove the prolapsed mucosa. Patients with rectal mucosal prolapse should avoid straining excessively during bowel movements. If constipation occurs, patients should not strain too hard and may use enemas to assist with bowel movements.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Causes of rectal prolapse

The causes of rectal prolapse primarily include older age or physical weakness leading to relaxation and sagging of the pelvic and rectal mucosa. Prolonged constipation can also lead to excessive straining during bowel movements, causing stress-induced sagging of the intestinal mucosa. Additionally, women who have gone through childbirth may experience rectal prolapse due to excessive straining of the pelvic floor muscles during delivery or increased abdominal pressure during pregnancy, which compresses the rectal mucosa. The treatment for rectal prolapse mainly consists of conservative medication or surgical removal. For mild cases of rectal prolapse, including those in children, traditional Chinese medicine enemas can be used. However, for moderate to severe cases, or cases where prolapse recurs frequently and significantly forms a complete prolapse, surgical removal is recommended.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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The difference between rectal prolapse and rectal prolapse.

Rectal prolapse, also known as rectal prolapse, is characterized by partial prolapse of the rectal mucosa in the early stages and full-length prolapse of the rectum in the later stages. Early rectal prolapse is generally accompanied by a feeling of incomplete bowel movements, urgency followed by a feeling of incomplete relief, and perianal contact, with secretions leading to perianal eczema, itching, and infection in the later stages. If the prolapse cannot be reduced, entrapment can occur, causing pain. The initial treatment for rectal prolapse is to ensure smooth bowel movements and reduce factors that increase abdominal pressure to avoid causing the rectal mucosa to protrude outward. Severe rectal prolapse may require surgical treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can you get pregnant with rectal prolapse?

Patients with rectal prolapse can become pregnant, but if diagnosed with rectal prolapse before pregnancy, it is advisable to first surgically remove the prolapsed mucosa. This is because during pregnancy, as the fetus grows, the pressure in the abdominal cavity gradually increases. Female patients may experience worsening of the rectal prolapse due to increased abdominal pressure, which could lead to increased congestion and edema, thereby exacerbating the severity of existing hemorrhoids or the severity of the rectal prolapse. Therefore, if there are symptoms of rectal prolapse before pregnancy, surgical treatment is recommended. If rectal prolapse occurs during pregnancy, conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine enemas can be chosen, and surgery can be considered after childbirth.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Will rectal prolapse cause the stool to become thinner?

Patients with rectal prolapse may experience a narrowing of their stool, which is primarily due to the relaxation of the rectal mucosa associated with rectal prolapse. The relaxed mucosa accumulates at the anus, blocking the passage of feces and thus altering the shape of the stool as it is expelled, generally resulting in thinner or flattened stools. Therefore, if it is definitively diagnosed that the change in stool shape is due to rectal prolapse, surgical treatment is recommended. The surgery involves excising or suturing the excessively relaxed rectal mucosa to allow for a smoother passage of stool and to prevent alterations in stool shape. Additionally, it is important for patients to maintain good lifestyle and bowel habits post-surgery, spend minimal time defecating, and avoid prolonged squatting or straining actions.