Symptoms and treatment of Rectal prolapse
Description
Rectal prolapse occurs when part of the large intestine from the lowest section, the rectum slides out of the muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract known as the anus. While the rectal prolapse may cause pain, it is rarely a medical emergency.
Rectal prolapse is sometimes treated with laxatives, suppositories and other medications. But surgery is usually required for the treatment of rectal prolapse.
Symptoms
If you have rectal prolapse, you may notice a lump that is red that comes out of the anus, often while straining during defecation. The lump may fall back on the inside of the anus, or it can continue to be seen.
Other symptoms may include:
- You can't control your bowel movements, known as fecal incontinence.
- Constipation or loose stools.
- Leakage of blood or mucus from the rectum.
- Feeling that the rectum is not empty after a bowel movement.
Causes
The cause of rectal prolapse is unclear. Although it is a common belief that rectal prolapse is related to childbirth, around a third of women with this health problem they never had children.
Risk factors
Some things can increase the risk of rectal prolapse, including:
- Sex. Most people with rectal prolapse are women.
- Age. Rectal prolapse occurs most often in people 50 years of age.
- The constipation. Effort may increase the risk of rectal prolapse.
Diagnosis
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids. To find rectal prolapse and rule out other problems related to health, your doctor may suggest:
- Digital rectal exam. Your health care provider places a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to check the strength of the sphincter muscles and verification of problems in the rectal area. During the exam, your doctor may ask you to bear down, to check for rectal prolapse.
- Anal Manometry. A narrow, flexible tube that is inserted into the anus and rectum. A small balloon at the tip of the probe can be exploited. This test helps to measure the tightness of his anal sphincter and how the straight of work.
- Colonoscopy. To rule out other conditions, such as hemorrhoids, polyps or colon cancer, you can have a colonoscopy, in which a flexible tube that is placed in the rectum to search all of the colon.
- Defecography. This test is added the use of a contrast dye for an imaging study, such as X-ray or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Defecography can help show structural changes in and around your lower digestive tract, and find out how the rectal muscles are working.
Treatment
Treatment for rectal prolapse, surgery is often needed. The treatment for constipation with laxatives, suppositories and other medications are often necessary. There are different surgical methods for the treatment of rectal prolapse. Your health care provider to choose the best treatment for you after passing above his age, health problems, and how their insides work.
