These muscles and ligaments may weaken due to various factors which include age, long chronic constipation, childbirth etc. due to which the attachment of the rectum to the body weakens. As a result of this weakness, rectum prolapse occurs (which actually means that the rectum has slipped out of place) There may be occasions when the large hemorrhoids, which are actually large swollen veins inside the rectum, may cause the rectum to slip out or prolapse.

In the first stages of the prolapse, the rectum has only poor attachment with the body and stays within. This stage of rectal prolapse is called mucosal prolapse, or partial prolapse, meaning that only the inner lining of the rectum (rectal mucosa) protrudes from the anus. As the connective tissues within the rectal mucosa become loose, it stretches as a result of which the tissue protrudes out through the anus. However when hemorrhoids are present for a long time, the condition generally do not progress to complete prolapse. Therefore, it is very important to determine whether the problem is caused by hemorrhoids or it is a case of rectal prolapse only.

It is well known that though hemorrhoids are common they are always not the real cause of rectal prolapse. After some time the muscles and ligaments become too weak to hold the rectum at place. Due to this reason a large portion of the rectum protrudes out of the body through the anus. This is known as the complete prolapse or full thickness rectal prolapses and is the most commonly found stage of the condition. At first the rectum may protrude and retract in accordance to the person’s activities and movements but gradually as the condition remains untreated the rectum may protrude more frequently or may even remain protruded permanently.

There is another form of prolapsed rectum which is known as the internal intussusceptions. Its conditions are alike and similar to that of the mucosal prolapse or complete rectal prolapse, but in this case the rectum do not protrude out from the body or enters the anal canal at all.

Prolapse of the rectum is uncommon and mostly affects the elderly people and is found rarely among children. Those children who may become affected are mostly below 3 years of age. The incidence of rectal prolapse amongst the male is less than that of the female, who constitute about 80 to 90% of the over all patients of rectal prolapse.

Some of the rectal prolapse which is caused by constipation or straining can be corrected by changing our habits but mostly these are not enough to correct the condition and may require surgery. As a rule, prolapsed rectum may further worsen if it is not corrected immediately through surgery.

Most cases of rectal prolapse require immediate medical attention and care. There have been cases when the treatment of the underlying cause of a prolapsed rectum solved the problem, but these relates mostly to infants and children. In older adults surgery is always necessary to treat a prolapsed rectum.

]]>