A new modification of colpocleisis for treatment of total procidentia in old age

Regret, satisfaction, and symptom improvement: analysis of the impact of partial colpocleisis for the management of severe pelvic organ prolapse

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess a cohort of patients who underwent a colpocleisis procedure more than 1 year post operation to determine: 1) the proportion of patients who regretted having the procedure, 2) patient satisfaction with the procedure, and 3) changes in symptom severity after surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Using the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Genitourinary Disorders Center database, a prospective analysis was performed on 54 patients who underwent colpocleisis between August 1996 and April 2003. From August to October of 2004, participants were contacted by an investigator not involved with the surgery and were asked 1) "do you regret having your surgery, and, if so, why?," 2) "how satisfied are you with your progress (completely, somewhat, or not)?," and 3) to repeat the short form Incontinence Impact Questionnaire/Urogenital Distress Inventory (IIQ-7/UDI-6).

RESULTS

Fifty-nine percent (32/54) of potential candidates participated in the study. Nine percent (3/32) of patients regretted having colpocleisis performed. Fifty-seven percent (16/28) were completely satisfied, 29% (8/28) somewhat satisfied, and 14% (4/28) not satisfied. Mean IIQ score improved significantly from 40.9 (+/-31.7) at baseline to 14.1 (+/-26.7) at last interview (P = .003). Mean UDI score improved significantly from 63.1 (+/-24.3) at baseline to 24.2 (+/-26.7) at last interview (P = .001). There was a negative correlation between change in UDI scores with time since procedure (r = -.397, P = .055) and age (r = -.435, P = .034).

CONCLUSION

Few patients reported regret after partial colpocleisis. There was a high rate of patient satisfaction and significant symptom improvement more than a year post surgery. Stable but smaller improvements were reported with longer time from surgery and increasing age.

Colpocleisis: a review

OBJECTIVE

To summarize published data about colpocleisis and to highlight areas about which data are lacking.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a literature search on Medline using Ovid and PubMed, from 1966 to January 2004, using search terms "colpocleisis", "colpectomy", "vaginectomy", "pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and surgery", and "vaginal vault prolapse and surgery" and included articles with English-language abstracts. We examined reference lists of published articles to identify other articles not found on the electronic search.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

We examined all studies identified in our search that provided any outcome data on colpocleisis. Because of the heterogeneity of outcome measures and follow-up intervals in case series, we did not apply meta-analytic techniques to the data.

RESULTS

Colpocleisis for POP is apparently successful in nearly 100% of patients in recent series. The rate of reoperation for stress incontinence or POP after colpocleisis is unknown. Concomitant elective hysterectomy is associated with increased blood loss and length of hospital stay, without known improvement in outcomes. Few studies systematically assess pelvic symptoms. The role of preoperative urodynamic testing to direct optimal management of urinary incontinence and retention remains to be established in this setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Colpocleisis is an effective procedure for treatment of advanced POP in patients who no longer desire preservation of coital function. Complications are relatively common in this group of elderly patients. Prospective trials are needed to understand the impact of colpocleisis on functional outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in women of 80 years of age and older

BACKGROUND

To investigate the long-term results of women over 80 years of age following surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Design. Retrospective, descriptive study.

METHODS

We reviewed all records of women of 80 years and older operated for pelvic organ prolapse; all patients alive were contacted through a postal questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 2058 operations for pelvic organ prolapse were performed in the study period. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were 80 years and older with the mean age of 83 years (range 80-92 years). In three cases, serious complications occurred, and one of them died shortly after the operation. Follow-up was done with a postal questionnaire. Eighty-eight percent of patients who were alive at the time of data analysis returned the questionnaire. The mean duration of follow-up was 28 months (range 1-80 months). There were no patients who reported a relapse of prolapse. Urinary incontinence, urge, stress, or mixed incontinence, was present in almost half of the cases. The time to full recovery after the operation was experienced to be less than 3 months for 48%. General satisfaction with the procedure was high with 88% being (very) satisfied.

CONCLUSION

The operative correction of a pelvic organ prolapse in a group of women 80 years and older is a successful operation, with an acceptable morbidity and a high satisfaction of the patients.

Colpocleise: ainda há indicações? Relato de um caso

Os autores relatam um caso de paciente com prolapso genital completo e sem condições clínicas de ser submetida à anestesia geral ou de condução. A paciente, de 84 anos e sem vida sexual há muitos anos, foi submetida a colpocleise parcial (técnica de Le Fort) com infiltração anestésica local. Os autores concluem que a colpocleise, embora deva ser considerada como cirurgia paliativa e de exceção, ainda encontra indicações na prática ginecológica diária.