|
• Usually uncommon condition quite prevalent in UAE due to low fiber diet and sedentary lifestyle
• 1 in 100 suffer with the debilitating condition in the country
17th Sep 2014, Ras Al Khaimah , UAE……………………Only an experienced surgeon could have performed such a tough technical task and Dr. Anup Panigrahi, HOD - Minimal Invasive Surgery at RAK Hospital has yet again proved his mantle by performing a critical Laparoscopic Rectopexy on a 49 years old Ethiopian women, who travelled all the way from her country in the hope of some relief and rightfully so. Having complete Rectum prolapse and suffering with third degree hemorrhoids, she came to RAK Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah in critical condition with bleeding and protruding rectum. Her condition had been causing lots of problems and interfering with her daily life making it extremely difficult to conduct regular chores. This patient was diagnosed 3rd degree bleeding haemorrhoids in Ethiopia. The surgeon needed to do a proper clinical examination to see the prolapsed rectum.
“Post assessment she was suggested to undergo an immediate surgery to cure her from the debilitating condition. Laparoscopic Rectopexy was suggested and performed to repair the rectal prolapsed…prolapsed rectum. It is a tough operation as many critical factors related to functioning of other nearby organs need to be considered to avoid issues such as incontinence, bladder retention and loss of sexuality, etc. Through the surgery, her rectum was restored to its normal position in the pelvis, now she is happy and pain free. Due to Laparoscopic surgery her recovery was quick as this treatment method is safe, most effective with low recurrence rate and have many advantages compared to the conventional open surgery”, commented Dr. Panigrahi.
“Patients with a rectal prolapse have a protrusion of the rectum through the anus. They may also experience symptoms such as a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, mucus drainage, anorectal pain, or fecal incontinence. A rectal prolapse occurs due to a loss or weakness of the normal support structures for the rectum. Chronic Constipation, female gender, multiple pregnancies, previous pelvic surgery, pelvic floor disorders, and neurological disorders are some of the predisposing factors for rectal prolapse, further commented Dr. Panigrahi.
“There is a significant population in UAE ( 1 in 100) suffering with some degree of rectum prolapse and the numbers are on the rise due to sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity and bad food habits. Medical treatment for a rectal prolapse aims to improve symptoms and prevent the prolapse from getting worse. Its management involves treating any constipation and helping people to avoid straining when opening the bowels. Increasing the amount of fibre in the diet can make it easier to open the bowels. Eating a high fibre diet including five portions of fruit / vegetables daily and drinking six to eight glasses of water each day helps to avoid constipation”, suggests the Doctor.
Causes of rectal prolapse
The term rectum refers to the lowest 12-15 centimeters of the large intestine. The rectum is located just above the anal canal. Normally, the rectum is securely attached to the pelvis with the help of ligaments and muscles. This attachment firmly holds the rectum in place. Various factors, such as age, long-term constipation, and the stress of childbirth, may cause these ligaments and muscles to weaken, which means that the rectum's attachment to the body also weakens. This causes the rectum to prolapse, meaning it slips or falls out of place. Occasionally, large hemorrhoids (large, swollen veins inside the rectum) may predispose the rectum to prolapse. The exact reasons why you may develop rectal prolapse aren't fully understood at present, but it's often associated with weakened muscles in your pelvis. It's known to be related to certain conditions that put extra pressure on your abdomen (tummy), such as:
Pregnancy
Constipation and/or straining when you have a bowel movement or Diarrhoea
Conditions that cause you to cough a lot, such as cystic fibrosis, whopping cough etc.
Occasionally it is also related to neurological conditions, including: Multiple sclerosis , lumbar disc disease, an injury to your lower back or pelvis and
spinal tumours
In older women, rectal prolapse can occur at the same time as a prolapsed womb or bladder. This is thought to be due to a general weakness in your pelvic floor muscles. These are the group of muscles that form a supporting sling between your pubic bone and the base of your spine. This weakness in your pelvic floor muscles may be related to previous pregnancy and childbirth.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom is of a lump that can be felt outside the back passage. At first it may only appear after opening the bowels (going to the toilet) but later it may come out when standing or walking or when coughing or sneezing. The lump can usually be pushed back inside but sometimes if it stays outside it can swell and become very painful (strangulated prolapse). If this happens then an emergency visit to the hospital is necessary.
Other symptoms are similar to those of hemorrhoids; however, rectal prolapse originates higher in the body than hemorrhoids do. Symptoms include:
Pain during bowel movements
Mucus or blood discharge from the protruding tissue
Fecal incontinence (inability to control bowel movements)
Loss of urge to defecate (mostly with larger prolapses)
Awareness of something protruding upon wiping
|
RSS Feed 
