1278. Rectal prolapse in terrapins and people -

Recently an 82-year-old man, sound mind and in good health brought in a terrapin with black and smelly prolapsed rectum. "No hope of repairing as the tissues are rotten and stinking," I usually push back the rectal tissues and suture up the anus for 10-14 days. If done early (within 1-2 days of rectal prolapse), the outcome is excellent. Euthanasia was done.

"Holding in the rectum"  - rectal prolapse where the rectum falls out of the anus. New surgical technique is providing relief. - Ventral Mesh Rectopexy. A mesh (plastic or biodegradaable material) is sutured to the pelvic floor muscles on both sides of the rectum. The top end is sutured to the spine to lift up the rectum. In women, the mesh is sutured to the top of the vaginal to prevent vaginal prolapse. At SGH, $5,000 - $25,000

Recurrences low.

Therapy to retrain pelvic floor muscles will not apply to animals!

REFERENCE:  The Straits Times Jan 17, 2013 pg 12-14 "Mind Your Body"

Reading what the human surgeons do and the latest advances in surgery may be of some use to veterinary surgeons.