Rectal Prolapse Guide

Rectal Prolapse occurs when the full thickness of the rectum wall turns inside out and sometimes sticks out through the anus. The condition can be internal (the rectum telescopes into itself) or external. Symptoms include a feeling of pressure or bulge, incomplete evacuation, mucus/stool leakage, and chronic straining. It is linked to the weakening of pelvic floor muscles and ligaments, often caused by chronic constipation, childbirth, or genetics. Diagnosis involves physical exam and specialized imaging, such as defecography, which provides a real-time view of the rectum's function during a bowel movement. Treatment is primarily surgical and is tailored to the patient. Surgical paths include the perineal approach (from below, higher recurrence, often for older/frail patients) and the abdominal approach (lower recurrence, often minimally invasive, such as ventral mesh rectopexy). The source notes there is no single "gold standard" operation.