Rectal prolapse: diagnosis and clinical management

The pathophysiology of this disabling condition is still uncertain and its clinical and instrumental diagnostic assessment needs to be clarified. The appropriate surgical or medical approach is much debated and has never been definitively stated. The rarity of the condition prevents randomised controlled trials from being carried out in a single institution, so the opinions of outstanding leaders in this field are particularly important. This textbook addresses the best way of evaluating patients with rectal prolapse, the underlying pathophysiology, the different surgical approaches, the expected functional results after surgery and the management of complex clinical conditions associated with this condition.