ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

What is Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome?

21:56 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a condition in which one or more sores form in the rectum, mainly due to chronic constipation problems, causing rectal bleeding during bowel movements.

Although it is still not clear what causes solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, the most recent clinical studies point to stress and injury to the rectum as the main factors.

Doctors point out that the rectum is usually affected when:

  • Excessive effort is made to evacuate.
  • There are hardened stools in the rectum that are difficult to evacuate.
  • A rectal prolapse occurs.
  • Intestinal intussusception.
  • The aim is to manually extract retained or impacted feces.
  • Deficient blood flow to the rectum due to alterations in the pelvic muscles.

Signs and symptoms Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

  • Great effort to defecate.
  • Rectal bleeding when defecating.
  • Presence of mucus in the rectum.
  • Feeling of incomplete evacuation.
  • Rectal pain.
  • Tension during bowel movements.
  • Fecal incontinence.

Diagnosis and treatment Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome diagnosis and treatment

Your doctor will analyze your symptoms and clinical history and perform a physical examination, as well as the following tests to rule out other possible causes:

  • Magnetic resonance defecography.
  • Ultrasound.
  • Sigmoidoscopy.
  • Evacuation proctogram.

The treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. In the simplest cases, lifestyle changes are recommended, including:

  • A more balanced diet incorporating foods high in fiber and a greater intake of fluids.
  • Medications such as topical steroids, sulfasalazine enemas, and botox.
  • Biofeedback to learn to regulate involuntary body responses, such as the tension of anal muscles during evacuation.
  • Stool softeners and suppositories.

Surgery is recommended in more complex and advanced cases, such as rectal prolapse:

  • Rectopexy: the rectum is adjusted to its normal position.
  • Surgical removal of the rectum: The colon is connected to an opening in the abdomen so that waste goes into a bag that is placed in the abdominal area.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

High Specialty Surgery Center
Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • actagastro.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • cun.es
  • saludigestivo.es
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com

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