An original surgical approach to manage complete rectal lumen obliteration following stapled hemorrhoidopexy

• Published in: Techniques in coloproctology Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 661 - 663
• Main Authors: Giannini, I., Ferrara, C., Fiore, A., Falagario, U., De Fazio, M., Di Lena, M., Altomare, D. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01.07.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Aged; Colorectal Surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology; Hemorrhoidectomy - adverse effects; Hemorrhoidectomy - instrumentation; Hemorrhoidectomy - methods; Hemorrhoids - diagnostic imaging; Hemorrhoids - surgery; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Intestinal Obstruction - etiology; Intestinal Obstruction - surgery; Laparotomy - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Proctology; Radiography; Rectum - surgery; Reoperation - methods; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery; Surgical Stapling - adverse effects; Surgical Stapling - methods; Technical Note; Treatment Outcome; Rectal lumen obliteration; Hemorrhoids; Stapled hemorrhoidopexy
• ISSN: 1123-6337; 1128-045X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10151-013-1115-7

Rectal lumen obliteration (RLO) is a rarely described, but fearful and potentially life-threating complication following stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Its management is not standardized and should take into account the time of recognition of the complication, the completeness of obliteration, and the integrity of the rectal wall. Here, we describe a case of complete RLO after stapled hemorrhoidopexy (the first case published to the best of our knowledge), successfully treated via an intra-abdominal approach with full rectal mobilization and recanalization of the rectum using a 31 mm EEA ® stapler.