Rectal Foreign Bodies
Epidemiology Rectal foreign bodies are a challenging, unique, and commonly seen problem. The true incidence of rectal foreign bodies varies throughout the literature because of patient underreporting. Most patients with…
Management of Fecal Impaction
Introduction Fecal impaction may be defined as a large compacted mass of feces (fecaloma) that becomes stuck in the colon or rectum and cannot be evacuated by the patient. Fecal…
Rectal Prolapse
Introduction Rectal prolapse occurs when the full thickness of the rectal wall protrudes through the anal canal. This condition can cause discomfort, bleeding, and incontinence. Rectal prolapse is most commonly…
Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome
Introduction Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a chronic benign disorder of the rectum and pelvic floor that produces ulcerated and polypoid areas in the rectal wall. Although some patients…
Fecal Incontinence
Introduction and Incidence Fecal incontinence may be defined as the inability to voluntarily control the release of flatus or stool until a socially convenient time and place. Fecal continence, which…
Rectal Stricture: Etiology and Management
Definition A rectal stricture, or stenosis, is a pathologic narrowing or constriction involving the lumen of the rectum. This narrowing can be the result of an intrinsic process that is…
Hirschsprung Disease
Introduction and History Hirschsprung disease represents a common cause of intestinal obstruction in newborns. These patients do not have an actual mechanical obstruction but rather a serious disturbance in normal…
Anorectal Congenital Disorders
Anorectal congenital malformations include a wide spectrum of defects, each of which requires a specific treatment and has a different functional prognosis. The main and most feared sequela is fecal…
Pelvic Pain
Patients with anorectal and pelvic pain often present to the colorectal surgeon with debilitating symptoms. It is estimated that such symptoms affect as many as 6.6% of the population, but…
