Rectocele
Updates to Article Attributes
Rectocele refers to a herniation or bulge of the rectal wall, with the most common type being an anterior rectocele where the bulge is into the posterior vaginal wall in a female patient. RectocoelesRectoceles can also occur posteriorly or laterally. RectocoeleRectocele is the term most commonly used by colorectal surgeons, and the same entity is referred to as a posterior vaginal prolapse by urogynaecologists.
Clinical presentation
Typical presenting symptoms include:
- difficult defaecation with excessive straining
- perineal and vaginal pressure and bulging
- intermittent faecal soiling
- requirement to digitate to allow evacuation of stools
Pathology
Anterior rectocele results from a defect in the integrity of the rectovaginal septum with subsequent herniation of the rectal wall into the vagina and inferiorly into the perineum.
Associations
- increasing age
- parturition
Radiographic features
Clinical examination may reveal a rectocele and other pelvic organ prolapses such as a cystocele, and these are usually graded using the POP-Q system. Imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate for co-existing pelvic organ prolapse. Both fluoroscopic and MRI proctography can depict rectoceles.
See also
-<p><strong>Rectocele</strong> refers to a herniation or bulge of the rectal wall, with the most common type being an anterior rectocele where the bulge is into the posterior vaginal wall in a female patient. Rectocoeles can also occur posteriorly or laterally. Rectocoele is the term most commonly used by colorectal surgeons, and the same entity is referred to as a posterior vaginal prolapse by urogynaecologists.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Typical presenting symptoms include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Rectocele</strong> refers to a herniation or bulge of the rectal wall, with the most common type being an anterior rectocele where the bulge is into the posterior vaginal wall in a female patient. Rectoceles can also occur posteriorly or laterally. Rectocele is the term most commonly used by colorectal surgeons, and the same entity is referred to as a posterior vaginal prolapse by urogynaecologists.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Typical presenting symptoms include:</p><ul>
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