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Brian P. Watkins, MD, MS; Jeffrey Landercasper, MD; G. Eric Belzer, MD; Paula Rechner, MD; Rebecca Knudson, BA; Marilu Bintz, MD; Pamela Lambert, RN

Arch Surg. 2003;138:498-503.

Hypothesis  The modified Delorme operation is a safe, effective, and durable treatment for complete rectal prolapse.

Design  Retrospective analysis of outcomes in adult patients undergoing the modified Delorme operation.

Setting  Community-based tertiary referral center with a 5-year general surgery residency program.

Patients  A total of 52 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for the treatment of complete rectal prolapse during the 26-year period ending December 2001.

Interventions  Modified Delorme operation.

Main Outcomes Measured  Method of anesthesia, morbidity, mortality, recurrence rates, length of follow-up, and incontinence.

Results  In the 52 patients, the mean length of prolapse was 8.2 cm. The mean operating time was 75 minutes. Forty-five patients were administered general anesthesia, 4 were administered spinal anesthesia, and 3 were administered local anesthesia. The mean postoperative stay was 4.9 days for 1975 through 2001 and 2.8 days for 1990 through 2001. No patients died as a result of the procedure. Patients were followed up for 61.4 months. Major medical comorbidities occurred in 40 patients. Preoperative incontinence was present in 12 patients, 10 of whom improved after the procedure, and postoperative incontinence in 8. The recurrent postoperative prolapse rate at 5 years was 6% (3/52) and the recurrent postoperative prolapse rate to the end of the study was 10% (5/52). Two patients (4%) had complications that required operative intervention in the postoperative period.

Conclusions  The modified Delorme operation is a safe and effective surgical treatment for complete rectal prolapse. The risk of recurrent prolapse is low, and the procedure may be safely performed in patients with significant medical comorbidities.

From the Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, LaCrosse, Wis.

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