Objective: To determine the risk of prolapse recurrence in patients after vaginal hysterectomy with colporrhaphy.
Design: Retrospective clinical study.
Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague.
Methods: The trial involved 220 women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and posterior kolporrhaphy at our department for uterine prolapse at least grade 2. It was the first vaginal surgery in all of the patients. Subjective feeling of pressure in the vagina and/or palpable mass in the vagina or in front of the vaginal entrance and/or objective finding decline of the vaginal walls or fundus at lest the second degree or repeated surgery for prolapse were considered as a prolapse recurrence.
Results: The mean age at the time of vaginal hysterectomy was 66.7 years (range 37-88). Only 11 patients were premenopausal (5%), the others were postmenopausal, a mean time of posmenopause was 16.9 years. The average parity rate of the study group was 2.1. The average duration of the surgery was 68 minutes. Postoperative urinary retention was observed in one patient (0.45%). 156 women were enrolled in the study. The average length of follow-up was 47 months (minimum 24 months). Recurrence of prolapse based on subjective assessment occured in 24 patients (15.4 %) with pressure and resistance in the vaginal introitus. According to objective criteria, the recurrence of prolapse was diagnosed in 33 (21.2%) patients, of which 16 had prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall, three of the posterior vaginal wall (two rectocoele, one rectoenterocoele), eight combination prolapse of anterior and posterior vaginal wall and vaginal vault prolapse was diagnosed in six women. Eight patients (5. 1%) underwent surgery because of prolapse recurrence. The mean interval from primary surgery to the time of reoperation was 24.4 months (range 6-62).
Conclusion: Patients have to be preoperatively informed about the risk of the prolapse recurrence with the recommendation of appropriate preventive arrangements.
Keywords: colporrhaphy; pelvic organ prolapse POP.; recurrence; vaginal hysterectomy; vaginal vault prolapse.