Burch bladder neck suspension for cystocele repair: the necessity of combined vaginal procedures for severe cases

Four-defect repair in women with symptomatic anterior compartment prolapse: a large cohort study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to collect long-term follow-up data and report on both objective and subjective outcome, including morbidity, reinterventions, and sexual function following four-defect repair (FDR) as surgical correction of symptomatic anterior vaginal wall prolapse with or without stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent FDR between 1999 and 2005 were included in this study. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate anatomical and functional outcome by reviewing medical charts and sending validated questionnaires (Urogenital Distress Inventory and Defecatory Distress Inventory) to all patients. We also sent a self-developed, nonvalidated questionnaire to assess sexual function and inform the patient about reinterventions for pelvic floor dysfunction.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty-nine (60 %) of the 381 patients who underwent FDR participated. At a median follow-up of 40 months (range 5-88), 21 % of patients reported bothersome prolapse symptoms, and 11 % reported bothersome SUI. Temporary postoperative urinary retention occurred in 23 %. During follow-up, posterior vaginal wall prolapse was observed in 14 % of patients. Overall surgical reintervention rates were 15 % and 4 % for (all types of) pelvic organ prolapse and SUI, respectively; dyspareunia was reported by 30 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional cure rates of FDR as surgical treatment for anterior vaginal wall prolapse with or without SUI are satisfying. Nevertheless, given the negative side effects of FDR (urinary retention, high reintervention rate for posterior vaginal wall prolapse, high risk of sexual dysfunction), we question the superiority of FDR over standard anterior colporrhaphy in patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse only.

Transvaginal paravaginal repair of high-grade cystocele central and lateral defects with concomitant suburethral sling: Report of early results, outcomes, and patient satisfaction with a new technique

Baden-Walker classification grade III-IV (pelvic organ prolapse quantification [POP-Q] system stage III-IV) cystocele is associated with a constellation of abnormalities including urethral hypermobility, lateral defect, central defect, and concomitant vault and posterior wall prolapse. We describe a new transvaginal paravaginal technique to correct this group of abnormalities and report on our early results. We prospectively evaluated patients with high-grade cystocele who underwent repair with the new transvaginal paravaginal repair. Preoperative evaluation included history and physical examination, dynamic pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, urodynamics, and symptom questionnaire. All patients first underwent a distal urethral polypropylene sling surgery. After repair of the central defect of the cystocele, a paravaginal repair of the lateral defect was performed by using a circular 5 cm x 5 cm soft polypropylene mesh attached proximally to the sacrouterine/cardinal ligament, distally to the bladder neck, and laterally to the infralevator obturator fascia. Postoperative evaluation at 3-month intervals included history and physical examination using the POP-Q system, a voiding dysfunction and incontinence symptom questionnaire, the validated short form of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), a validated global quality-of-life question, and a postvoid residual. We performed the repair in 98 patients with a mean age of 65 years (range, 40 to 86 years). Of these, 26% underwent concomitant vaginal hysterectomy, 45% had enterocele repair, and 94% had rectocele repair. There were 2 complications, including transient ureteral obstruction due to bladder wall hematoma and 1 patient who presented with a recurrent enterocele requiring surgical repair. No patient experienced urinary retention. De novo stress urinary incontinence was seen in 3 patients; de novo urge incontinence was seen in 2 patients. Postoperative POP-Q scores showed 85% of patients with stage 0-I, 13% with stage II, and 2% with stage III anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Of patients with preoperative stress urinary incontinence, 70% reported never experiencing symptoms under any circumstances. Quality of life improved from 4.7 to 1 (P < 0.005). Transvaginal paravaginal repair of grade III-IV cystocele using soft polypropylene mesh fixed to the obturator fascia, sacrouterine ligaments, and bladder neck area provides excellent support of the central defect repair as well as repair of the lateral defect. The operation is safe, simple, and outpatient based, and provides excellent anatomic results with minimal complications. Concomitant distal polypropylene sling did not increase the rate of complications and did not compromise results of stress urinary incontinence surgery.

Does Surgical Repair of Pelvic Prolapse Improve Patients’ Quality of Life?

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of surgical repair in patients with pelvic prolapse, and to assess the postoperative quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

A total of 70 patients (mean age: 66.7 years) underwent transvaginal two-corner bladder neck suspension in combination with transvaginal hysterectomy (63 cases), and anterior with (49) or without (21) posterior colporrhaphy. The status of recurrence and complications were followed in all patients at a mean follow-up period of 32.0 months. Postoperative patients' quality of life (QOL) consisting of four items (sensation of vaginal bulging, urinary incontinence, difficulty to urinate, and health-related QOL) was assessed in 52 cases whose were followed at least two years (mean: 41.6 months, range: 24.3-69.1).

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients (97%) were recurrence-free. Nine of the 39 (23%) patients with difficulty to urinate before surgery had persistent symptoms postoperatively. Multivariate analysis revealed that cystometric abnormalities, voiding symptoms at seventh days after surgery, and weak detrusor contraction were independent prognostic factors for persistent voiding symptoms. As for the QOL, all items had significant improvement at 13 months after surgery as compared to baseline condition. A longitudinal study showed improvement of these symptoms sustained at least up to four years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that surgical repair can achieve results with long-term durability as well as improving the QOL. In addition, assessment of the detrusor function may be needed for patients who complain difficulty to urinate in avoiding persistent such symptoms.