What is anal prolapse?

Rectal prolapse is also called rectal prolapse. It is caused by partial or complete downward movement of the rectal wall, causing the tumor to prolapse. If it moves outside the anus, it is called external prolapse, and if it moves partially into the anal canal and rectum, it is called internal prolapse. Rectal prolapse often occurs in children or middle-aged and elderly people, especially women. It is very harmful to health and can easily cause rectal ulcers, bleeding and even necrosis.

The cause of rectal prolapse is not yet fully understood, and is believed to be related to multiple factors. 1. Anatomical factors: Underdeveloped infants, malnourished patients, and the elderly are prone to weak anal levator muscles and pelvic floor fascia; the curvature of the sacrum in children is small and too straight; surgery or traumatic damage to the muscles or nerves around the anorectum can weaken the fixation and support of the rectum by the tissues around the rectum, making the rectum prone to prolapse. 2. Increased abdominal pressure, such as constipation, diarrhea, prostate hypertrophy, chronic cough, difficulty urinating, multiple births, etc., often causes increased abdominal pressure and pushes the rectum downward. 3. Other internal hemorrhoids and rectal polyps often prolapse, pulling the rectal mucosa downward and inducing mucosal prolapse.

The main clinical symptom is prolapse of a tumor from the anus. The swelling is small at first, falls out during bowel movements, and repositions itself after bowel movements. Later, the tumor prolapsed more frequently and increased in size, and needed to be pushed back into the anus by hand after defecation, accompanied by an incomplete bowel movement and a feeling of falling. Finally, it can be removed by coughing, exerting force or even standing. As prolapse worsens, it causes varying degrees of anal incontinence, often with mucus flowing out, leading to eczema and itching of the skin around the anus. Due to the difficulty in emptying the rectum, constipation often occurs, the frequency of bowel movements increases, and the stool is sheep-dung-like. The mucosa is eroded and blood flows out after rupture. The symptoms of internal prolapse are not obvious, and are mainly manifested by symptoms of rectal emptying disorder such as a feeling of incomplete defecation and anal obstruction. Suppositories are inserted into the anus to assist bowel movements and make bowel movements smoother. Some patients experience distension and pain in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region during defecation. Longer course of disease may also cause varying degrees of anal incontinence.