Introduction The rectum, which is the organ of defecation, is a unique part of the gastrointestinal tract. The anatomic and physiologic characteristics peculiar to this role allow specific and sometimes unique approaches to management of neoplasms of the rectum. This…
Introduction Tumors of the sacrum and retrorectal space are rare. Two reviews of patients at the Cleveland Clinic found 50 patients between 1928 and 1985 ( Table 26-1 ) and 87 patients between 1981 and 2011, in line with other…
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 rectal foreign bodies are male and range from 30 to…
Definition A rectocele is an abnormal protrusion of the anterior rectal wall into the vagina ( Fig. 24-1 ). It is found in 20% of adult women, and symptoms may develop by the fourth or fifth decade of life. Most…
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 have a single rectal ulcer, the term is misleading because…
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 seen in older women, but it may occur in both…
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 impaction is common and causes significant morbidity. Although it can…
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 occurring within the lumen or wall of the rectum, or…
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 is learned in childhood, is one of the most important…
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 colonic peristalsis because of a lack of ganglion cells. The…