Colopexy in Cats with Recurrent Rectal Prolapse: A Case Series

Abstract

Rectal prolapse is a frequently encountered condition in  small animal practice and is characterized by protrusion  of the rectal mucosa or full-thickness rectal wall through the  anal opening. In cats, rectal prolapse is commonly associated  with persistent tenesmus secondary to gastrointestinal  disorders such as parasitism, diarrhea, constipation, colitis, or  urinary tract diseases (Birchard and Sherding, 2016; Fossum,  2019).  Acute cases of rectal prolapse may respond favourably  to conservative management, including manual reduction  followed by purse-string suturing and treatment of the  underlying cause. However, recurrent rectal prolapse is often  challenging to manage and may result in edema, ulceration,  ischemia, and necrosis of the rectal tissue if left untreated  (Smeak, 2006; Tobias and Johnston, 2012). In such cases, a  more definitive surgical approach is required. Colopexy is  a surgical technique that involves fixation of the colon to  the abdominal wall to prevent caudal displacement and  recurrence of prolapse. The procedure has been reported  to be effective in both dogs and cats with recurrent rectal  prolapse (Orsher, 1995; Ellison and Lewis, 2018). The present  case series describes the clinical presentation, surgical  management, and outcome of colopexy in cats with recurrent  rectal prolapse.