Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42065829›Full record

ArticleTechniques in coloproctology2026

Evaluation of autologous fat injection as a minimally invasive technique for rectocele repair: a prospective pilot study.

I A Shafik, M M Abdelfatah, A Shafik, E Hagagy, M Ali

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Techniques in coloproctology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

I A ShafikDepartment of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
M M AbdelfatahDepartment of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
A ShafikDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, New Giza University (NGU), Cairo, Egypt. shafikahmed@me.com.
E HagagyDepartment of General Surgery, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
M AliDepartment of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRectocele repair remains challenging owing to high recurrence and morbidity associated with traditional surgical techniques. Autologous fat injection has emerged as a biologically integrative method that strengthens native pelvic tissues through regenerative mechanisms. This prospective pilot study evaluated feasibility, safety, and short-term anatomical and functional outcomes of autologous fat injection for rectocele repair.

methodsBetween October 2023 and June 2025, 25 women with symptomatic Baden-Walker grade II-III rectocele and obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) were prospectively enrolled at Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. Abdominal fat was harvested, mechanically emulsified, and injected into the rectovaginal septum using a 15-gauge blunt cannula (mean injected volume 52 ± 10 mL). Outcomes included rectocele size on magnetic resonance (MR) defecography, clinical Baden-Walker grade, predefined ODS symptom categories/defecation frequency, and complications.

resultsMean rectocele size decreased from 3.28 ± 0.82 to 1.82 ± 0.47 cm (p < 0.001). Overall, 80% of patients reported complete symptomatic improvement, while 20% reported recurrent symptoms during follow-up. Transient postoperative constipation occurred in 20% of patients and resolved conservatively. No major complications occurred. Injected volume showed an exploratory association with anatomical improvement.

conclusionsAutologous fat injection for rectocele repair appears feasible and safe, with a signal of short-term anatomical and functional improvement in this pilot cohort. Larger comparative studies using validated patient-reported outcomes and standardized imaging follow-up are required.

Indexed as

Abdominal FatAdipose TissueMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresRectoceleAdultAgedConstipationDefecographyFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInjectionsMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsPostoperative ComplicationsFat graftingMinimally invasiveObstructed defecationPelvic floor repairRectoceleRegenerative surgery

Identifiers

PMID42065829
PMCPMC13134980

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.