A rectocele surgery is performed when a rectocele [ hernia of the rectum ] pushes into the baby’s vaginal area, causing a bulge.
“Doctor, help! There’s a bulge in my baby’s butt!”
This is just a common exclamation one can usually hear in a paediatrician’s office. Hysterical mothers bring into the clinic their babies wherein the chief complaint is a bulge in the vaginal area of the infant. Commonly too, are the attempts of these new mothers to try to push back the bulge themselves. Of course, the pediatrician has to warn them off that particular activity. It can actually rupture the site and further worsen the condition.
Rectocele surgery – is it needed ?
Just what is that bulge anyway? That bulge is actually a hernia. The herniation is caused by the rectum pushing through a weakened wall into the back wall of the vagina. Small herniations can cause little or no distress, but larger ones and the more serious ones causes discomfort and a sagging sensation. [ There can often also occur, an enterocele, which is a bulge of the small intestine into the vagina.]
Infants and adults may need rectocele surgery
The rectocele is commonly found among women after repeated childbirth,
as a complication that arises after a hysterectomy,
the aged,
chronic physical trauma to the rectum,
and to infants.
According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, the occurrence of a congenital rectocele among infants is rare. This may be true in the United States, but some doctors in Asia have conflicting reports.
The repair to the weakened wall is called rectocele surgery, which involves the pushing back of the small intestine and rectum into place, and held by reconstructed pelvic muscles.
The walls of the vagina are also restored to normal shape. During the rectocele surgery itself, the procedure is usually done by going through the vagina, unless an underlying condition requires having to have an abdominal incision. Because of the nature of rectocele surgery itself, general anaesthesia is usually administered to the patient.
Rectocele surgery recovery
Rectocele surgery recovery is lengthy. Hospital stay is two to three days, normal bowel movement in two to four weeks, normal non-strenuous activities achieved within four to six weeks.
Plenty of water intakes are a must. Some women have complained that they have more discomfort after the surgery like painful intercourse, painful if not difficulty in urination, retention of urine, vaginal infections and others.
There are always risks involved when having to undergo surgeries like rectocele repair. However, these risks are minimal when compared to what one has to go through before the repair-.
Rectocele surgery is not a fool proof solution. If symptoms experienced by the patient were present before the surgery, then after the surgery it may still be there. Symptoms pre-surgery may include constipation, painful intercourse, and pelvic or lower back pains.
It is also best to remember that lifestyle is a significant contributing factor to the rectocele and enterocele. In fact, lifestyle can exacerbate the rectocele and enterocele. High on the list are:
smoking,
obesity,
constipation due to lack of fibre intake,
and strenuous activities that can traumatize the lower pelvis and the rectum itself.
Avoidance of pregnancy after a rectocele surgery is also highly recommended.