Rectal prolapse unreduced for 4 months in a premature neonate

AbstractA 5 month old male infant was transferred to a children's general hospital with an 11-centimeter rectal prolapse, which had not been reduced for four months. He had been born at 24 weeks gestation with a normal perineum and had recovered from sepsis and respiratory failure. At the time of arrival, he was tolerating feeds and having normal bowel movements. He had a normal neurologic exam and spinal x-rays. We performed a laparoscopic reduction with digital pressure from below to successfully address the prolapse. Hypertonic saline was additionally used as a sclerosant. There is no current consensus on the timeframe for addressing rectal prolapse, though a case that remains unreduced for four months in a neurologically normal newborn is exceedingly rare. To minimize potential complications, expeditious reduction and repair, as necessary, is recommended