Evacuation difficulties and other characteristics of rectal function associated with procidentia and the Ripstein operation.

Twenty-one patients with rectal prolapse (N = 15) or internal rectal procidentia (N = 6) were investigated clinically and by anorectal manometry prior to and six months following rectopexy. Symptoms such as urgency, rectal pain, blood, and mucous discharge were markedly relieved by the operation. Rectal evacuation and number of bowel motions seemed to be unaffected. Rectal volume, sensibility, and compliance did not change following surgery. Rectal sensibility was reduced in these patients compared with 15 controls, but there was no difference in rectal volume or rectal compliance.