Abstract
Rectocele is a disease in which the slackness of the frontal wall of the rectum causes a pouch which is the cause of defecatory disturbance especially in the female. The disease has not been recognized in our country even having no translated term for it, which I have called slackening of the rectovaginal septum and so far treated 57 cases of them. The analyses of the cases reveal that the age distributes widely from twenties to eighties and number of their deliveries are from zero to 5 times which shows the cause of the disease is not at least solely multiple delivery. The main symptoms are disturbed defecation, feeling of imcomplete evacuation etc.. The diagnosis is comfirmed by inserting a forefinger to prove a pouch in front of the rectum, which is observed also as a protrusion of the vaginal wall. The first choice of the treatment is conservative methods such as laxatives and foods to make bowel movement smooth. For the cases resistant to the conservative treatments, radical operation is considered. So far, almost all papers especially of U. S. A. recommend transrectal operation because of the excellency in the simultaneous treatment of mucosal prolapse of the rectum which often accompanies with the disease. However, to avoid this possible postoperative complications as infection and dehiscence, we perform transvaginal operation with good results and without complications.
