Summary

An 84-year-old lady with a history of chronic recurrent rectal prolapse, presented to accident and emergency with a significant portion of small bowel and mesentery protruding out of her anus. The small bowel was not contained within peritoneum, nor was this a pararectal herniation. On examination of the rectum, a longitudinal tear was found in the anterior rectal wall, through which the small bowel had prolapsed. Hours after reducing the small bowel back into the anus, it prolapsed a second time. Due to multiple co-morbidities, this patient was not fit for surgery. The defect was temporarily repaired on the ward and the patient treated with aggressive antibiotic therapy. The patient continued to deteriorate, became septic, acidotic, hypotensive and died a day later.