Transrectal repair of rectocele: an extended armamentarium of colorectal surgeons. A report of 355 cases.

Colorectal surgeons are frequently faced with rectocele patients who have distressing bowel difficulty and anorectal complaints. In 1977, a new technique of transrectal repair of rectocele operating through a standard Fansler operating speculum was developed. The principle of the repair is based on the technique of Sullivan, as described elsewhere. The main difference is in dealing with the mucosal prolapse. A total of 355 cases of transrectal repair of rectocele was compiled for study covering a period from 1977 to 1982. Ninety-eight percent of patients have improved. Only 2 percent reported no improvement after surgery. There was a 5.6 percent overall infection rate. With refinement of the technique, no infection has been observed in the last 96 cases of the series.