To interpret the long-term outcomes of transvaginal round-infundibulopelvic ligament colposuspension after vaginal hysterectomy in patients with stage 3-4 uterovaginal prolapse.
This retrospective case-control study from 2007 to 2016 analysed patients' medical records and evaluated gynaecological examinations over 11 years of follow-up. One hundred and forty-three patients who underwent transvaginal round-infundibulopelvic ligament colposuspension after vaginal hysterectomy were evaluated. The prespecified primary outcome evaluated at 11-year follow-up was apical prolapse of stage 2 or higher evaluated by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q), in combination with bothersome bulge symptoms or repeat surgery for recurrent apical prolapse. The secondary outcome was overall anatomical failure (recurrent prolapse of stage 2 or higher in apical, anterior or posterior compartment). The rate of recurrence of apical prolapse was compared between groups using the McNemar test.
The mean (± standard deviation) follow-up period was 88.15 ± 2.519 months (95 % confidence interval 83.17-93.13). The pre-operative diagnoses were stage 3 uterovaginal prolapse in 23 (16.08 %) patients, stage 4 uterovaginal prolapse in 120 (83.91 %) patients, rectocele in 119 (83.21 %) patients, cystocele in 138 (96.50 %) patients and stress urinary incontinence in 53 (37.06 %) patients. Ten (8.33 %) patients with stage 4 uterovaginal prolapse developed postoperative apical prolapse, whereas none of the patients with stage 3 uterovaginal prolapse developed postoperative apical prolapse. Postoperatively, the POP-Q stages of apical prolapse were significantly lower compared with pre-operatively (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, the apical prolapse rate was 7.0 %, the recurrent cystocele rate was 2.07 %, the recurrent rectocele rate was 5.5 %, and the recurrent stress urinary incontinence rate was 18.87 %. Overall, postoperative anatomical failure occurred in 21 of 143 (14.68 %) women. One (0.69 %) patient developed perioperative bladder perforation, two (1.39 %) patients experienced voiding difficulty, and eight (5.59 %) patients experienced vaginal spotting.
Transvaginal round-infundibulopelvic ligament colposuspension during vaginal hysterectomy is an effective and useful method that reduces the rate of postoperative apical prolapse in patients with high-grade uterovaginal prolapse.
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. 2020 Jun 17 [Epub ahead of print]
Mustafa Ayhan Ekici, Caglar Cetin, Batuhan Kayar, Omür Albayrak, Mehmet Ata Topcuoğlu, Ulku Mete Ural
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abant İzzet Baysal, Bolu, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, İzzet Baysal State Hospital, Bolu, Turkey., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abant İzzet Baysal, Bolu, Turkey.