Transvaginal repair for anterior rectocele - a video vignette

Higher Symptom Score, Larger Residual Rectocele, and Lower Rectal Compliance Predict Failure of Improvement after Surgical Treatment of Rectocele

Background Rectocele is a frequent finding in women and is usually asymptomatic. However, it is sometimes associated with symptoms of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS). While most patients with ODS due to rectocele respond well to conservative treatment, some may require surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of failure of symptom improvement after rectocele repair.

Methods The study included adult women with rectocele who underwent surgical treatment by transperineal repair (TPR) or transvaginal repair (TVR). The preoperative and postoperative assessment was done using the Wexner constipation score, anorectal manometry, and defecography.

Results A total of 93 female patients with a mean age of 43.7 years were included. Among them, 65.6% of patients underwent TPR and 34.4% underwent TVR; 22 (23.7%) patients reported failure of significant improvement in ODS symptoms after surgery. The independent predictors of failure of improvement were higher preoperative Wexner score (odds ratio, OR: 1.4, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.09–1.84, p = 0.009), larger residual rectocele after repair (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.43–6.08, p = 0.003), and lower postoperative maximum tolerable volume (OR: 0.949, 95% CI: 0.907–0.992, p = 0.02). The predictive cutoff point for the preoperative Wexner score was 15.

Conclusions Patients with a preoperative Wexner score higher than 15 and larger residual rectocele after surgery may experience little improvement in symptoms after rectocele repair. Although TPR was associated with a poorer relief of symptoms than did TVR; it was not an independent predictor of failure.

Functional Outcome and Sexual-Related Quality of Life After Transperineal Versus Transvaginal Repair of Anterior Rectocele: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Methods of treatment of rectocele include transperineal, transvaginal, and transanal approaches and ventral rectopexy.

OBJECTIVE

The present randomized study aimed to compare the outcome of transperineal repair and transvaginal repair of anterior rectocele.

DESIGN

This is a randomized, single-blinded clinical trial.

SETTING

This study was conducted at the Colorectal Surgery Unit, Mansoura University Hospitals.

PATIENTS

Adult female patients with anterior rectocele reporting obstructed defecation syndrome were selected.

INTERVENTIONS

Anterior rectocele was surgically treated via a transperineal or transvaginal approach.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Improvement in constipation, operation time, hospital stay, complications, changes in anal pressures, and improvement in sexual-related quality of life was assessed by use of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, and the incidence of dyspareunia postoperatively was assessed.

RESULTS

Sixty-four female patients of a mean age of 43.5 years were entered into the trial. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the operation time. Patients undergoing transperineal repair had significantly longer hospital stays than those undergoing transvaginal repair (2.4 vs 2.1 days, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding postoperative complications and recurrence of rectocele. Significant decrease in the constipation scores was recorded in both groups at 6 and 12 months after surgery. The decrease in the constipation scores after transvaginal repair was significantly higher than after transperineal repair at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Although resting and squeeze anal pressures were significantly increased at 12 months after transperineal repair, they did not show significant change after transvaginal repair. Improvement in sexual-related quality of life was significantly higher in the transvaginal repair group than in the transperineal repair group at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Dyspareunia improved after transvaginal repair and worsened after transperineal repair, yet this change was insignificant.

LIMITATIONS

This was a single-center study comprising a relatively small number of patients.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal repair of rectocele achieved better improvement in constipation and sexual-related quality of life than transperineal repair. Changes in dyspareunia after both techniques were not significant. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B148.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03801291. RESULTADO FUNCIONAL Y CALIDAD DE VIDA RELACIONADA CON EL SEXO DESPUÉS DE LA REPARACIÓN TRANSPERINEAL VERSUS TRANSVAGINAL DEL RECTOCELE ANTERIOR: UN ENSAYO CLÍNICO ALEATORIZADO: Los métodos de tratamiento del rectocele incluyen los abordajes transperineal, transvaginal y transanal y la rectopexia ventral.El objetivo del presente estudio aleatorizado fue comparar el resultado de la reparación transperineal y la reparación transvaginal del rectocele anterior.Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, simple ciego.Unidad de Cirugía Colorrectal, Hospital Universitario de Mansoura.Pacientes mujeres adultas con rectocele anterior que se quejan de síndrome de defecación obstruida.Tratamiento quirúrgico del rectocele anterior mediante abordaje transperineal o transvaginal.Mejora en el estreñimiento, tiempo de operación, estancia hospitalaria, complicaciones, cambios en la presión anal, mejoría en la calidad de vida relacionada con el sexo evaluada por el cuestionario PISQ-12 e incidencia de dispareunia postoperatoria.Sesenta y cuatro pacientes de sexo femenino de una edad media de 43.5 años ingresaron al ensayo. No hubo diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos con respecto al tiempo de operación. La reparación transperineal tuvo una estancia hospitalaria significativamente más prolongada que la reparación transvaginal (2.4 Vs 2.1 días, p = 0.03). No hubo diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos con respecto a las complicaciones postoperatorias y la recurrencia del rectocele. Se registró una disminución significativa en las puntuaciones de estreñimiento en ambos grupos a los 6 y 12 meses después de la cirugía. La disminución en las puntuaciones de estreñimiento después de la reparación transvaginal fue significativamente mayor que después de la reparación transperineal a los 6 y 12 meses después de la operación. Aunque las presiones anales de reposo y compresión aumentaron significativamente a los 12 meses después de la reparación transperineal, no mostraron cambios significativos después de la reparación transvaginal. La mejora en la calidad de vida relacionada con el sexo fue significativamente mayor en la reparación transvaginal que en el grupo de reparación transperineal a los 6 y 12 meses después de la cirugía. La dispareunia mejoró después de la reparación transvaginal y empeoró después de la reparación transperineal, sin embargo, este cambio fue insignificante.Estudio de un solo centro que comprende un número relativamente pequeño de pacientes.La reparación transvaginal del rectocele logró una mejoría en el estreñimiento y la calidad de vida relacionada con el sexo que la reparación transperineal. Los cambios en la dispareunia después de ambas técnicas no fueron significativos. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B148.Ensayos clínicos. Identificador del gobierno: NCT03801291.