The treatment of rectal prolapse in children with phenol in almond oil injection

Purpose: The treatment of rectal prolapse in children is controversial. We report the results of injection sclerotherapy in children using phenol in almond oil (PAO) and discuss the occurrence of complications after the injection of PAO. Methods: Nine children with rectal prolapse, aged from 2 years and 6 months to 14 years, were treated by PAO injection sclerotherapy between 1993 and 2000. The outcome of PAO injection sclerotherapy and the presence of complications were investigated from the point of anorectal function using anorectal manometry. Results: All of the nine patients were cured after one to three injections without any complications. The manometric study showed that normal anorectal reflex and other parameters of the anorectum were found after injection sclerotherapy. Two of the 4 who had complained of constipation no longer had constipation after the therapy. Conclusions: PAO injection sclerotherapy is simple and should be recommended as a first method of treatment for rectal prolapse in children. PAO as a sclerosing agent did not cause any complications.