How Are The Symptoms of Rectal Prolapse Diagnosed?

Posted by Rohan Gupta on February 17th, 2021

Rectal prolapse causes a lump to poke out of your back passage (anus) and this can become relatively excruciating. Although the protuberance can pop in and out at first, afterward it can stay out all the time, particularly when you stand up. This can cause complications with everyday activities that encompass walking or standing for any length of time.

Symptoms of rectal prolapse

The most common sign is something lump/ engorgement poking out of the anal opening. In the initial phases, this might occur only during a bowel movement, but as the condition advances, it might happen on coughing, sneezing and standing up too. Firstly it might be possible to slide back the bulge inside with your fingers. With time, even this might not be possible and it might insistently be out which requires non-surgical treatment of prolapse rectum.

• In case of Occult prolapse there is no bulge coming out but there might be a feeling of incomplete clearing after a bowel movement, as though something is still left in the rectum.
• Fecal incontinence resulting in dirtying of garments. There might be leak of gas, liquid/solid stools or mucus/ blood blemished discharge. The anal sphincter is made of muscles that permit one to keep hold of their stool when there is a longing to defecate. When the rectum prolapses, it goes past the anal sphincter, and this permits stools and mucus to pass in an unrestrained fashion.
• Constipation - Seen in upto 30-50% of patients, constipation might result owing to bunching up of the rectum, forming a blockage that deteriorates with straining.
• Pain/ uneasiness in the region.
• With time, the prolapsed mucosa might become thick and ulcerated instigating bleeding.

Diagnosis of rectal prolapse

A transitory clinical history of your symptoms followed by scrutiny of the rectum is done. Your doctor might ask you to strain or cough during the examination. A digital rectal examination is implemented followed by Proctoscopy (imagining of the rectum by inserting a scope). Other tests might consist of:

• MRI Defecography - This test shows how much stool the rectum can hold, how well it can hold and how fine it can release the stool.
• Colonoscopy - This is an inspection of the large intestine/colon, with the assistance of a flexible tube that has a built-in camera. It is done to rule out any related condition.
• Anal manometry - This test measures the strength of the anal sphincters, how firmly the sphincters can close.