VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

RECTAL PROLAPSE

• Most common surgical condition involving the rectum in cattle, buffaloes, and  small ruminants. 

causes

• Prolonged tenesmus,
• Increased intra abdominal pressure due to bloat,
• Rectal inflammation and irritation,
• Diarrhoea,
•  act of parturition
• Straining ,
• Foreign bodies,
• Perineal hernia,
• Constipation and 
• Congenital defects.

Classification  

• Incomplete: Prolapse involving only the mucosa
• Complete: Prolapse of whole thickness rectal wall. Constriction due to tight anal sphincter leads to extensive necrosis of prolapsed tissue.

Diagnosis

• Visual observation of mass of varied length protruding from the anus.  

Treatment

• Reduction after lavage with a astringent solution and application of an emolient
• Purse string suture in the skin around anus by leaving an opening which permits defecation
• To abolish straining – epidural anaesthesia
• Animals should be kept on laxative diet for few days to prevent constipation
• Recurrence is common in this method
• Initiating cause must  be treated to effect cure  

Post surgical management

• Regular cleaning, dressing with topicak anaesthetic and use of systemic antibiotics
• Complications: Dehiscence of suture line, peritonitis,  stenosis or stricture 
• rectal prolapse in dogs