Causes of rectal prolapse

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

The causes of rectal prolapse primarily include older age or physical weakness leading to relaxation and sagging of the pelvic and rectal mucosa. Prolonged constipation can also lead to excessive straining during bowel movements, causing stress-induced sagging of the intestinal mucosa. Additionally, women who have gone through childbirth may experience rectal prolapse due to excessive straining of the pelvic floor muscles during delivery or increased abdominal pressure during pregnancy, which compresses the rectal mucosa. The treatment for rectal prolapse mainly consists of conservative medication or surgical removal. For mild cases of rectal prolapse, including those in children, traditional Chinese medicine enemas can be used. However, for moderate to severe cases, or cases where prolapse recurs frequently and significantly forms a complete prolapse, surgical removal is recommended.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
54sec home-news-image

Can you eat black fish with rectal prolapse?

Patients with rectal prolapse are advised not to consume seafood, lamb, and other stimulating foods for long periods or in excessive amounts. Overconsumption of lamb, seafood, or spicy and stimulating foods can easily lead to dry stools. When stools are dry, patients will involuntarily strain during bowel movements, which can worsen the rectal prolapse. In addition to needing a light and liquid diet, patients with rectal prolapse require prompt treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and delaying the disease. The primary treatment method is surgical removal combined with local sclerosing agent injection therapy. After surgery, it is important for patients to avoid squatting or excessive physical exercise for up to six months to prevent episodes of rectal prolapse.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can rectal prolapse cause stool deformity?

Rectal prolapse primarily refers to the excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa. It may manifest as relaxation of the rectal mucosa due to the prolapse, and may also result in rectal prolapse. Patients with rectal prolapse may experience deformed stools, mainly because the prolapse overly crowds the anal opening, preventing feces from being normally expelled from the body. When feces are expelled through the anus, the local mucosal compression can cause the stools to appear in thin strips or in a flattened shape. Patients with rectal mucosal prolapse are advised to undergo examinations as soon as possible and actively receive treatment. Options include traditional Chinese medicine retention enemas, combined with oral qi-boosting medications. If the prolapse recurs, or has resulted in rectal prolapse, surgical treatment is recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 6sec home-news-image

Clinical manifestations of rectal prolapse

The clinical manifestations of rectal prolapse mainly involve the contents within the anal canal, especially the prolapse of the rectal mucosa outside the anus, which is most common. Severe cases of rectal prolapse may lead to a cylindrical or conical prolapse. The common type of rectal prolapse mainly refers to rectal prolapse, but there can also be internal prolapse of the rectal mucosa. Internal prolapse of the rectal mucosa is characterized by excessive relaxation and accumulation of the rectal mucosa at the anus, causing symptoms such as a sense of blockage, downward pressure, and obstruction during bowel movements. This can be definitively diagnosed through an anal examination and defecography. Regardless of whether it is internal prolapse of the rectal mucosa or rectal prolapse, when the disease progresses to a severe degree affecting the patient's normal life, surgical treatment is recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 6sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of rectal prolapse?

Rectal prolapse is a common clinical disease in proctology, primarily affecting children, postpartum women, and the elderly. Symptoms of rectal prolapse include varying degrees of bloating and a feeling of falling at the anus. Sometimes, due to the accumulation of mucosa at the anal opening, normal defecation is impeded, leading to constipation and difficulty in bowel movement. To examine and diagnose rectal prolapse, an anoscopy is necessary. Under anoscopy, the relaxed mucosa that accumulates can be seen at the mirror opening. Treatment for rectal prolapse in children may involve the use of traditional Chinese medicine retention enemas, which can gradually alleviate the prolapse as the body's condition improves. For postpartum women or the elderly, treatment may also involve traditional Chinese medicine retention enemas in combination with surgical excision. The primary surgical procedure used is a Hemorrhoidal mucosal circular stapling operation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
41sec home-news-image

Is rectal prolapse the same as hemorrhoids?

Rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids are two different diseases. Rectal prolapse refers to the condition where the rectal mucosa, or sometimes the entire rectal wall, prolapses downwards during defecation, prolonged standing, or fatigue, especially in severe cases. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, involve the prolapse of vascular cushions and anal padding, sometimes accompanied by symptoms like rectal bleeding. The causes, mechanisms, pathology, symptoms, and treatment methods of these two conditions are distinct, making rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids two separate diseases.