Transanal repair of rectocele: prospective assessment of functional outcome and quality of life

AIM

This study aimed to assess the functional outcome of transanal repair of rectocele using patient symptom scores and quality of life (QOL) instruments.

METHOD

Patients who underwent transanal repair for symptomatic rectocele between February 2012 and August 2017 were included. This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. A standard questionnaire including the Constipation Scoring System (CSS), the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) and QOL instruments [Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC)-QOL, Fecal Incontinence QOL Scale, Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36)] was administered before and after the operation. Physiological assessment and proctography were performed before and after the operation.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were included. The median follow-up was 36 (6-72) months. Postoperative proctography showed a reduction in rectocele size [34 mm (14-52 mm) vs 10 mm (0-28 mm), P < 0.0001]. Physiological assessment showed no significant postoperative changes. Constipation was improved in 15/21 patients (71%) at 1 year and 14/20 patients (70%) at the mid-term follow-up. The CSS score reduced at 3 months [12 (8-12) vs 6 (1-12), P < 0.0001] and remained significantly reduced over time until the mid-term follow-up. Faecal incontinence was improved in two-thirds patients at 1 year. Four patients developed new-onset faecal incontinence. All the PAC-QOL scale scores significantly improved over time until 1 year, while two of the eight SF-36 scale scores showed significant postoperative improvement.

CONCLUSION

Transanal repair for rectocele improves constipation and constipation-specific QOL.

Surgery for constipation: systematic review and practice recommendations: Results IV: Recto-vaginal reinforcement procedures

AIM

To assess the outcomes of recto-vaginal reinforcement procedures in adults with chronic constipation.

METHOD

Standardised methods and reporting of benefits and harms were used for all CapaCiTY reviews that closely adhered to PRISMA 2016 guidance. Main conclusions were presented as summary evidence statements with a summative Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (2009) level.

RESULTS

Forty-three articles were identified, providing data on outcomes in 3346 patients. Average length of procedures ranged between 20 and 169 min, and length of stay between 1 and 15 days. Complications typically occurred after 7-17% of procedures (range 0-61%). Post-operative bleeding was uncommon (0-4%) as well as haematoma or sepsis (0-2%). Fistulation did not occur in most studies. Two procedure-related deaths were observed for 3209 patients. Although inconsistent, 78% of patients reported a satisfactory or good outcome, with 30-50% experiencing reduced symptoms of straining, incomplete emptying or reduced vaginal digitation. About 17% of patients developed anatomical recurrence. Considering measures of harm and global satisfaction rating scales, there was insufficient evidence to prefer one type of procedure over another. There was no evidence to support better outcomes based on selection of patients with a particular size or grade of rectocoele.

CONCLUSION

Evidence supporting recto-vaginal reinforcement procedures is currently derived from observational studies and comparisons, with only one high quality study. Large trials are needed to inform future clinical decision making.