Postoperative anatomic and quality-of-life outcomes after vaginal sacrocolporectopexy for vaginal vault prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To assess anatomic outcome and quality of life (QOL) after vaginal sacrocolporectopexy among patients with pelvic organ prolapse.

METHODS: A noncomparative observational study was conducted at Hanover Medical School, Germany, among patients who underwent vaginal sacrocolporectopexy for uterine or vaginal vault prolapse between May 1, 2006, and October 31, 2012. A validated German version of the Prolapse QOL (P-QOL) questionnaire was sent to eligible patients; respondents were invited for follow-up examination.

RESULTS: Overall, 128 patients were enrolled. Concomitant hysterectomy was performed among 82 (64.1%) patients, anterior colporrhaphy among 105 (82.0%), and posterior colporrhaphy among 58 (45.3%). After a mean interval of 26.5 months (range 1.0-81.3 months), seven patients exhibited recurrent vaginal vault prolapse of at least stage 2, giving a success rate of 92.3% (95% confidence interval 85.9%-96.5%). The P-QOL scores were either low (<40) or very low (<20), indicating high QOL. Regarding symptoms related to pelvic organ prolapse, patients reported little or no impact on QOL after vaginal sacrocolporectopexy.

CONCLUSION: Vaginal sacrocolporectopexy seemed safe and feasible, leading to anatomically correct fixation of the vaginal apex, high anatomic success rates, and good QOL. This procedure might be considered as an alternative to laparoscopic or abdominal sacrocolpopexy.