Rectal prolapse: A possibly underrecognized complication of anorexia nervosa amenable to surgical correction

Objective: Rectal prolapse is a complication of anorexia nervosa (AN) that may be more common than previously recorded experience would suggest. Method: In this report we document, for the first time, the association of (AN) and rectal prolapse in a series of three patients seen in the past three years. An extensive review of the literature using Medline over the period from 1966 to Jan 2000 failed to reveal any previous example of this association. Results and Conclusion: The finding could have significant health care implications if confirmed. It would suggest that patients with either the psychiatric or surgical problem may not be receiving the appropriate complementary referrals: psychiatrist to surgeon and vice versa. The importance of recognition of this association in anorectic patients is the availability of effective surgical therapy.