Postoperative Care for Rectal Prolapse Surgery

Written by Deng Heng

Colorectal Surgery

Updated on March 15, 2025

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Post-Rectal Prolapse Surgery Precautions:

1. Rest in bed, which helps improve the recovery rate. Due to gravity, many patients with rectal prolapse experience prolapse when standing or walking. Although the surgery fixes the prolapsed mucosa, the firmness of the fixation takes time to establish. Therefore, it is recommended to rest in bed with limited activity for one week after the surgery to solidify the therapeutic effects.

2. Take oral antibiotics for 7 to 10 days after surgery.

3. Abstain from food for the first two days after surgery, and consume semi-liquid or liquid foods in reduced quantities on the third day.

4. Refrain from defecating for 4 to 5 days after surgery.

5. Do not strain during the first bowel movement after surgery.

(Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician)

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Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

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Can you do yoga with rectal prolapse?

Patients with rectal prolapse can engage in moderate exercise, but it is not recommended to perform exercises that involve significant abdominal strength or squatting movements. This is because excessive abdominal pressure or overexertion can increase intra-abdominal pressure, compressing the mucosa and tissue around the anus, thereby worsening the prolapse. If squatting exercises are performed over a long period, it could further aggravate the degree of rectal mucosal prolapse. Hence, patients with rectal prolapse may opt for gentler exercises like yoga, ensuring that the movements and methods do not exacerbate the condition of the rectal mucosa. Patients with rectal prolapse should seek surgical treatment as soon as possible, where the prolapsed mucosa is completely excised for recovery.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

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What is the pathogenic mechanism of rectal prolapse?

The pathogenic mechanism of rectal prolapse primarily refers to the relaxation and sagging of the rectal mucosa down to the anal area, forming an internal rectal mucosa prolapse. Excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa can protrude externally through the anus in a cylindrical or conical shape, commonly known as external rectal mucosa prolapse or rectal prolapse. The causes are mainly due to congenital deficiency of kidney energy in patients or excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa due to multiple childbirths. Some patients with long-term constipation may also experience rectal mucosal relaxation due to excessive straining during bowel movements. Additionally, elderly and frail patients may experience sagging of the rectal mucosa as they age.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

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Rectal prolapse symptoms

The symptoms of rectal prolapse mainly refer to local mucosal relaxation in the anal canal, which leads to the prolapse of the internal mucosa outside the anus, or excessive relaxation of the mucosa that accumulates at the anus, forming an internal mucosal prolapse of the rectum. Rectal prolapse may also manifest as local bloating, pain, and a feeling of falling in the patient. Due to repeated prolapses, it may also cause difficulties in defecation due to mucosal accumulation at the anus, or form outlet obstructive constipation. Therefore, whether it is internal mucosal prolapse of the rectum or prolapse that leads to rectal prolapse, it is advisable for patients to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible to avoid aggravating the condition and delaying treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

54sec

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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.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing

Colorectal Surgery

59sec

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How to treat rectal prolapse?

Rectal prolapse mainly includes external rectal mucosal prolapse and internal rectal mucosal prolapse. External rectal mucosal prolapse primarily refers to the symptoms and types of clinical rectal prolapse. The most common and effective treatment for rectal prolapse or internal rectal mucosal prolapse is surgery. Simple medication can only relieve local relaxation or compressive symptoms, but it does not have a definitive therapeutic effect on the disease itself. The surgery mainly involves the removal and excision of the relaxed and prolapsed mucosa, thereby increasing the tightness of the intestinal mucosa and relieving the local mucosal pressure on the anus, which causes the patient's feelings of bloating and descent. After the surgery, patients need to rest in bed for a week and should avoid squatting and excessive abdominal straining in their future activities.