Open versus laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy: an examination of early postoperative outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Abdominal rectopexy is used to treat full thickness rectal prolapse and obstructed defecation syndrome, with good outcomes. Use of a laparoscopic approach may reduce morbidity. The current study assessed short-term operative outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic or open rectopexy.

METHODS

Rectopexy cases were identified from theater logs in two tertiary referral centers. Patient demographics, intra-operative details and early postoperative outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

There were 62 patients included over 10 years, a third of whom underwent laparoscopic rectopexy. Laparoscopy was associated with a longer operative time (195.9 versus 129.6 min, p = 0.003), but this did not affect postoperative outcomes, with no significant differences found for complication rates and length of stay between the two groups. Univariable analysis found no influence of laparoscopic approach on the likelihood of postoperative complications, and no factor achieved significance with multivariable analysis. This study included the first laparoscopic cases performed in the involved institutions, and a "learning curve" existed as seen with a decreasing operative duration per case over time (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic rectopexy has similar short-term outcomes to open rectopexy.