Modified Gant procedure for treatment of internal rectal prolapse in elderly women

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Although rectal prolapse is not a life-threatening condition, it can cause defecation disorders, anal incontinence, sensory abnormalities, and other problems that can seriously affect quality of life.

AIM

To study the efficacy of the modified Gant procedure for elderly women with internal rectal prolapse.

METHODS

Sixty-three elderly female patients with internal rectal prolapse underwent the modified Gant procedure. The preoperative and postoperative anal symptoms, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), Wexner incontinence score, incontinence quality of life score, and complications (massive hemorrhage, infection, anorectal stenosis, and anorectal fistula) were compared.

RESULTS

The improvement rates of postoperative symptoms were defecation disorders (84.5%), anal distention (69.6%), defecation sensation (81.4%), frequent defecation (88.7%), and anal incontinence (42.9%) (P < 0.05). All dimensions and total scores of the PAC-QOL after the procedure were lower than those before the operation (P < 0.05). The postoperative anal incontinence score and Wexner score were significantly lower than those before the procedure (P < 0.05). The quality of life and total scores of postoperative anal incontinence were significantly higher than those before the procedure (P < 0.05). There were no serious complications and no deaths.

CONCLUSION

The modified Gant procedure has significant advantages in the treatment of elderly women with internal rectal prolapse.

Core Tip: Intrarectal prolapse in elderly patients, who have low tolerance for surgery, is often complicated by medical diseases. In this study, we explored a new kind of operation with a reliable curative effect, few postoperative complications and tolerance by elderly women with intrarectal prolapse.

INTRODUCTION

Intrarectal prolapse (IRP) is defined as the intraluminal intussusception of a part of, or the whole rectal wall, in which no external lesions can be observed on the flat surface of the anus[1]. IRP commonly tends to affect older women. Some patients need surgical treatment when conservative treatment does not improve the condition. However, serious complications such as anastomotic fistula, rectal stricture, and pelvic infection may occur despite the many surgical options for IRP. IRP in elderly patients, who have low tolerance for surgery, is often complicated by medical diseases[2]. This study investigated a new type of procedure with a reliable curative effect, few postoperative complications, and tolerance in elderly women with IRP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data

From September 2018 to April 2020, 63 elderly female patients with IRP were selected according to the previously published diagnostic criteria[3]. The patients were aged 60 to 82 years, with an average age of 67.19 ± 5.57 years, and six patients presented with serious medical diseases (Table 1). Inclusion criteria: (1) patients who met the diagnostic criteria of IRP with clinical symptoms; (2) patients aged ≥ 60 years; and (3) patients who had multidisciplinary treatment (gastroenterology, urology and gynecology) and were cured by long-term conservative treatment. The exclusion criteria were: (1) patients with perianal diseases such as perianal abscess, anal fissure, anal fistula, and perianal condyloma acuminatum; (2) patients with gynecological diseases, urinary diseases or colorectal tumors; (3) patients with mental illness; and (4) judgment of the efficacy or safety of the procedure was affected by incomplete data.

Table 1.

Patient characteristics

Characteristics	n
Age (yr)
60–69	36
70–79	25
≥ 80	2
Preoperative complication of serious disease
Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease	2
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	1
Liver cirrhosis	1
Diabetes	2
Oxford Rectal Prolapse Grade (ORPG)
ORPG-1 (High rectal)	1
ORPG-2 (Low rectal)	6
ORPG-3 (High anal)	25
ORPG-4 (Low anal)	31

Preoperative preparation

A detailed medical history was taken, comprehensive physical examination and investigations (routine examination, urine, stool, blood biochemistry, five items of liver disease, electrogram, and electric colonoscopy) were made, and all the patients were treated. They were also examined by defecography and graded according to the Oxford Rectal Prolapse Grade (ORPG). A detailed explanation of the procedure was provided to all the patients, who were reassured in order to enhance compliance with the treatment. Written informed consent was obtained from each of the patients.

Operation method

Patients were placed in the right lateral position and the operation site was exposed. Routine disinfection and anorectal iodophor cotton ball disinfection were performed. Digital rectal examination was conducted to rule out rectal space-occupying lesions and anal fistulae, and an anal retractor was used to keep the anal canal open for exploration. Guided by a finger, an Alice tissue forceps was used to clamp the loose rectal mucosa from the anal margin to the proximal end of the rectum and to pull it outward along the same point. The loose and prolapsed rectal mucosa was pulled out to the maximum extent, with a total length of ~6 cm. Using the Alice tissue forceps, the rectal mucosa was longitudinally clamped at the uppermost end of the intestinal mucosa and ligated with No. 10 mu silk line to form a mucosal ball. By repeating these steps, several mucosal balls were formed on the mucous membrane, 1 cm from the tooth line, and approximately three mucosal balls were flattened with the same forceps. There were 3–5 mucosal balls from the top of the rectum at the same point. We ensured that two fingers could be inserted into the rectal cavity, even with the mucosal balls, and that there was tension between the flat mucous balls during the ligation process (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Operation method. A: Tissue forceps pulling rectal mucosa outside the anus; B: Longitudinal clamp of mucous membrane with tube forceps and ligation of silk thread; C: Ligation of prolapsed rectal mucosa to form the first mucosal ball; D: Layered ligation of prolapsed rectal mucosa to form the second and third mucous bulbs; E: Ligation of the prolapsed rectal mucosa to form the fourth mucous membrane ball.

Observation index

The preoperative and postoperative anal symptoms, the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), the Wexner anal incontinence score, the anal incontinence quality score, and the postoperative complications (massive hemorrhage, infection, anorectal stricture, anorectal fistula) were recorded.

Statistical analyses

SPSS 20.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analyses. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± SD and compared by single factor analysis of variance, while the numerical data was expressed as the number of cases (constituent ratio) and compared by χ² or Fisher’s exact test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Comparison of symptoms before and after the procedure

The improvement rates of postoperative symptoms were as follows: defecation disorders, 84.5%; anal distention, 69.6%; defecation sensation, 81.4%; frequent defecation, 88.7%; and anal incontinence, 42.9% (P < 0.05) (Table 2).

Table 2.

Five common symptoms of intrarectal prolapse, n (%)

Symptoms	Proportion		Improvement rate (%)	χ 2	P
	Before procedure (n = 63)	After procedure (n = 63)
Defecation disorder	58 (92.1)	9 (14.3)	84.5	76.531	0.000
Anal distension	56 (88.9)	17 (27.0)	69.6	49.537	0.000
Inexhaustible sense of defecation	59 (93.7)	11 (17.5)	81.4	74.057	0.000
Frequent defecation	53 (84.1)	6 (9.5)	88.7	61.050	0.000
Anal incontinence	35 (55.6)	20 (31.7)	42.9	7.260	0.007

Comparison of dimensions and total scores of PAC-QOL before and after the procedure

All dimensions and total scores of PAC-QOL after the procedure were lower than those before the procedure (P < 0.05). The postoperative anal incontinence score and Wexner score were significantly lower than those before the procedure (P < 0.05). The quality of life and total score of postoperative anal incontinence were significantly higher than those before the procedure (P < 0.05) (Table 3).

Table 3.

Comparison of PAC-QOL, dimensions, and total scores of anal incontinences (mean ± SD)

	Before procedure (n = 63)	After procedure (n = 63)	t	P
PAC-QOL score
Physiology (4 items)	8.41 ± 2.18	5.48 ± 1.41	8.966	0.000
Social psychology (8 items)	18.79 ± 4.05	12.16 ± 3.23	10.157	0.000
Worry (11 items)	20.58 ± 5.59	15.49 ± 4.35	5.672	0.000
Satisfaction (5 items)	16.87 ± 4.39	11.52 ± 3.24	7.788	0.000
Total score	64.63 ± 14.05	44.65 ± 10.60	9.012	0.000
Wexner score of anal incontinence	8.54 ± 3.19	5.70 ± 3.33	3.129	0.003
Quality of life score of anal incontinence
Lifestyle (10 items)	26.83 ± 7.23	31.25 ± 8.81	-2.013	0.049
Coping/behavior (9 items)	20.06 ± 6.06	25.05 ± 5.52	-3.032	0.004
Depression/self-perception (7 items)	14.91 ± 5.79	18.10 ± 4.24	-2.149	0.036
Awkward (3 items)	5.46 ± 1.82	6.85 ± 1.76	-2.764	0.008
Total score	67.26 ± 13.56	81.25 ± 13.95	-3.644	0.001

PAC-QOL: Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life.

Postoperative complications

There were no serious postoperative complications or deaths (Table 4).

Table 4.

Postoperative complications

Complications	n	Incidence rate
Massive hemorrhage	0	0
Infection	0	0
Anorectal stenosis	0	0
Anorectal fistula	0	0

DISCUSSION

IRP is a condition that affects the pelvic floor, and its pathogenesis remains unclear[4]. In the clinical setting, rectal prolapse syndrome is the main manifestation and includes defecation disorder, auxiliary defecation, repeated trips to the restroom, and a feeling that the anus is falling out. Due to the low sensitivity and specificity of the clinical manifestations and limited understanding of IRP in the past, the diagnosis mainly depended on a detailed medical history[5]. In the past 20 years, IRP has been further diagnosed with the development of imaging techniques such as defecography and rectal ultrasound, and especially dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance[6]. The ORPG is an internationally recognized grading system for IRP based on imaging findings. According to the degree of prolapse, IRP can be divided into five grades: 1 and 2 indicate rectal intussusception; 3 and 4 indicate rectoanal intussusception; and 5 indicates external rectal prolapse. There is a correlation between the severity of prolapse and age[7]. The degree of prolapse increases and has more obvious clinical symptoms with increasing age. Female sex and multiparity are also risk factors for IRP[8].

Surgical treatment can be considered for patients with IRP in whom conservative treatments have been ineffective. In addition, many procedures to treat IRP are performed during surgery for external rectal prolapse, including laparoscopic ventral rectal repair and fixation (LVMR)[9], transanal surgeries such as Delorme’s procedure, and transanal rectal anastomosis (STARR). One study showed that the improvement rates for constipation and fecal incontinence treated by LVMR for IRP were 65%–92% (39%–43%) and 73%–97% (39%–40%), respectively. The incidence of complications is low, ranging from 0% to 23% (44%). Most complications are mild, but there are also serious complications (vaginal erosion with prosthesis exposure, infection, intestinal obstruction, rectal perforation, and hernia)[10,11]. The improvement rate of clinical constipation after Delorme’s procedure is 76%, but the risk of incomplete defecation and fecal incontinence increases (24%)[12,13]. STARR is often recommended for the treatment of obstructive constipation, with an efficacy rate of 80%[14,15]. However, because of the decrease in rectal volume and changes in sensitivity, there is an increased risk of fecal incontinence as well as serious complications such as nail line rupture, abnormal pelvic cellulitis, and rectovaginal fistula[16]. The present study showed that the improvement rates for constipation and anal incontinence after the modified Gant procedure for elderly female patients with IRP were 84.5% and 42.9%, respectively, and there were no serious complications. Compared to the above-mentioned surgical methods for IRP, there was no significant difference in the improvement rate of constipation; there was a certain advantage in the convenience of correcting anal incontinence; and there were no serious complications caused by other surgical methods.

Although anorectal measurement is an objective means of examination, it cannot precisely evaluate the severity of anal incontinence and/or defecation disorders in patients with IRP. For patients with IRP with anal incontinence or defecation disorders, the subjective constipation/anal incontinence quality of life questionnaire can precisely reflect the severity of the complaints and help surgeons formulate treatment strategies and evaluate treatment outcomes for clinical and research objectives. Therefore, the present study used the PAC-QOL scale[17], the Wexner anal incontinence score scale[18], and the anal incontinence quality score to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the procedure[19]. The results showed that the modified Gant procedure could significantly improve constipation, anal incontinence, and the quality of life of patients with IRP.

The modified Gant procedure used in this study for treatment of IRP can shorten the rectal mucosa and fix it to the muscular layer by ligating the scar. In addition, the procedure is limited to the loose rectal mucosa, as the surrounding tissue is damaged. It can relieve defecation disorders and anal incontinence caused by rectal intussusception and reduce the stimulation to the rectal defecation receptor by the prolapsed tissue[20]. As a result, the modified Gant procedure can improve clinical symptoms such as anal distension and incomplete defecation and quality of life, postoperative pain, and serious complications caused by other procedures. This procedure does not require general anesthesia, and as a palliative procedure, it is particularly suitable for elderly patients with internal diseases and low surgical tolerance. During the procedure, attention to the following points is required: The prolapsed tissue must be pulled out gently to avoid mucosal tear. In addition, the index finger should be extended into the rectum under guidance to ensure that the pulled rectal mucosa is located on the same longitudinal axis. Moreover, a digital rectal examination should be performed before ligating the mucosa, to ensure that the rectal cavity at the point of ligation is greater than two fingers wide to avoid rectal stricture.

The long-term effect of this procedure needs to be observed and measured as the short follow-up time of the study was a limitation. The treatment of IRP requires a multidisciplinary management. In future studies, we will investigate whether comprehensive postoperative treatment, such as pelvic floor muscle training, traditional Chinese medicine, and psychological intervention, would benefit patients with rectal prolapse.

CONCLUSION

The modified Gant procedure has significant advantages in the treatment of elderly women with IRP, a reliable curative effect, few postoperative complications, and is easily tolerated.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Intrarectal prolapse (IRP) is defined as the intraluminal intussusception of part of, or the whole rectal wall, in which no external lesions can be observed on the flat surface of the anus.

Research motivation

IRP tends to commonly affect older women. Some patients need surgical treatment when conservative treatment does not improve the condition.

Research objectives

To explore a new type of procedure with a reliable curative effect, few postoperative complications, and easy tolerance by elderly women with IRP.

Research methods

Sixty-three elderly female patients with IRP underwent the modified Gant procedure.

Research results

The quality of life and total score of postoperative anal incontinence were significantly higher than those before the procedure.

Research conclusions

The modified Gant procedure has significant advantages in the treatment of elderly women with IRP. It has reliable curative effect, few postoperative complications, and is easily tolerated by elderly patients.

Research perspectives

In future studies, the authors will investigate whether comprehensive postoperative treatment, such as pelvic floor muscle training, traditional Chinese medicine, and psychological intervention, would be of benefit to patients with IRP.

Data sharing statement

No additional data are available.