Prolapsed rectum

Rectal prolapse occurs when your rectum, part of your large intestine, slips down inside your anus. It’s caused by a weakening of the muscles that hold it in place. Rectal prolapse may look or feel like hemorrhoids, but unlike hemorrhoids, it doesn’t go away on its own. You'll eventually need surgery to fix it. Overview Your rectum is the end portion of your intestine as it reaches your anus. When your rectum prolapses, it falls down into your anus. What is rectal prolapse? Your “Prolapse” is the term healthcare providers use to describe any body part that has fallen from its normal position in your body. It usually means that the muscles supporting the part have weakened or deteriorated. Some weakening or deterioration is normal with aging, but extra wear and tear on the muscles can accelerate the process. Childbirth, chronic Who does rectal prolapse affect? It most commonly affects people who were assigned female at birth, especially those over the age of 50. Less commonly, it may occur in young children as a result of How common is this condition? It’s estimated to occur in about 2.5 in every 1000 people. Is rectal prolapse serious? It’s not urgently serious, but it can cause discomfort for some people, and it can lead to possible complications down the road. The most common complications are pooping difficulties, such as Symptoms and Causes What causes rectal prolapse? Failure of the muscles that hold the rectum in place leads to rectal prolapse. Many things may contri...

As you age, these muscles lose tone and this can result in a small prolapse. Similarly, after women give birth to children, the muscles can relax and stretch, also setting the stage for a prolapse. Constipation and the consequential straining to move your bowels is also a common cause of rectal prolapse. Diagnosing Rectal Prolapse The easiest way to diagnose a rectal prolapse is through a complete physical examination. Your healthcare provider will take a history of your complaints and might be able to visualize the rectal tissue extending through your anus. Unlike hemorrhoids, a rectal prolapse can usually be gently tucked back up inside your rectum. If your healthcare provider has concerns about the severity or underlying cause of your prolapse he or she may send you for further testing. There are several different ways that your surgeon can surgically correct the prolapse, but most techniques involve removing a small portion of your colon and reattaching it to your anus. This is a major surgery that requires hospitalization; discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider. When to Call Your Practitioner Immediately It is an emergency if you have a known rectal prolapse that stays on the outside of your body. The prolapsed tissue can become strangulated and start to lose circulation, and as the tissues lose circulation, they become necrotic and die. This requires serious medical treatment and most likely surgery to correct. Go to the emergency room if rectal...

Rectal prolapse causes a lump to stick out of your back passage (anus) and this can become quite painful. Although the lump can pop in and out at first, later on it can stay out all the time, especially when you stand up. This can cause problems with daily activities that involve walking or standing for any length of time. Rectal Prolapse In this article • What causes rectal prolapse? • How common is a rectal prolapse? • What are the symptoms of rectal prolapse? • What else looks like rectal prolapse? • Do I need any tests for rectal prolapse? • How to fix a rectal prolapse • Surgical treatment for rectal prolapse • What is the best treatment for me? • Is a rectal prolapse dangerous? • What is the outlook for rectal surgery? What causes rectal prolapse? • Anything that increases the pressure inside your tummy (abdomen) can make you more likely to develop a rectal prolapse. This can include: • Chronic constipation and straining. • Diarrhoea. • Straining to pass urine due to a swollen prostate gland. • Pregnancy. • Persistent cough. • Damage to the back passage (anus) or pelvis from previous surgery. • Damage to the muscle on the floor of the pelvis. • Infections of the bowel with certain types of microbes called parasites (such as amoebiasis and schistosomiasis). • Diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis. • Damage to the nerves from back surgery, a slipped disc, or an accident injuring the pelvic nerves. • Rectal prolapse in children In children, rectal pr...

Who Is Likely to Experience a Rectal Prolapse? Although rectal prolapse can affect anyone, it is most common in adults, and women ages 50 and older have six times the risk as men. It occurs in children, usually between infancy and 4 years of age, who have an underlying predisposing condition. There is no such gender disparity in childhood cases. Symptoms Rectal prolapse may develop and worsen over time. The predominant symptom is the sensation of a lump pushing through the anus during a bowel movement. In the early stages, the prolapse will subside on its own. As the condition worsens, the prolapse needs to be manually dealt with or will not recede at all. The prolapse may also be triggered by coughing or standing. If you suspect that you have a rectal prolapse, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They will determine if your symptoms are caused by a rectal prolapse or a Causes There are a wide variety of factors that may contribute to the development of a rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapses may result from obesity, poor bowel habits or chronic constipation, but also may be due to abnormalities in the structure and muscles and ligaments of the anus, rectum and pelvic floor. Pregnancy and injury during childbirth are also possible causes. • Goldstein, S. & Maxwell, P. "Rectal Prolapse" Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery 2011 24:39-45. • O'Brien, D. "Rectal Prolapse" Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery 2007 20:125-132. • Safar, B. & Sands, D. "Abdominal Approach...

Rectal prolapse Rectal prolapse happens when the rectum becomes stretched and sticks out from the anus. Rectal prolapse happens when part of the large intestine's lowest section, the rectum, slips outside the muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract known as the anus. While rectal prolapse may cause pain, it's rarely a medical emergency. Rectal prolapse is sometimes treated with stool softeners, suppositories and other medicines. But surgery is usually needed to treat rectal prolapse. Symptoms If you have rectal prolapse, you may notice a reddish lump that comes out of the anus, often while straining during a bowel movement. The lump may slip back inside the anus, or it may continue to be seen. Other symptoms may include: • You cannot control your bowel movements, known as fecal incontinence. • Constipation or loose stools. • Leaking blood or mucus from the rectum. • Feeling that your rectum isn't empty after a bowel movement. Causes The cause of rectal prolapse is unclear. Though it's a common belief that rectal prolapse is related to childbirth, about one-third of women with this health problem never had children. Risk factors Some things may increase your risk of getting rectal prolapse, including: • Sex. Most people with rectal prolapse are women. • Age. Rectal prolapse most often happens in people over age 50. • Constipation. Straining may increase the risk of rectal prolapse. • Cohee MW, et al. Benign anorectal conditions: Evaluation and management. America...

Your rectum is the lower part of your colon, where stool forms. If the rectum drops out of its normal place within the body and pushes out of the anal opening, the condition is called rectal prolapse. In the early stages, a prolapse may happen only after a bowel movement. The protruding rectum may then slip back through the anal canal on its own. Over time, however, the prolapse may become more severe and could require surgery. Causes Rectal prolapse is usually caused by a weakening of the muscles that support the rectum. Symptoms Symptoms of rectal prolapse include: • Feeling a bulge after coughing, sneezing, or lifting • Having mucous discharge in your stool • Pain and rectal bleeding • Fecal incontinence • Having to push the prolapse back into the anus by hand • Feeling pressure in your rectum • Being constipated • Having anal pain, bleeding, or itching Risk factors Anyone can develop rectal prolapse, but women are more likely to have the condition than men. These are some conditions that may increase your risk for developing a rectal prolapse: • A long history of constipation • Straining to have bowel movements • Chronic diarrhea • Laxative abuse • Childbirth • Spinal cord problems or previous stroke • Cystic fibrosis • Aging or dementia Diagnosis Your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose rectal prolapse with a medical history and a physical exam. You may be asked to squat and strain as if you are having a bowel movement. Your healthcare providers may also do o...