Long-term outcome of vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy for marked uterovaginal and vault prolapse.

Background: This study was carried out to evaluate the safety and long-term outcome of sacrospinous colpopexy in marked genital prolapse.

Setting: Gynaecology Department, Benenden Hospital, Kent, UK.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between September 1993 and May 2000 on 305 women who underwent transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy. The indications for surgery were marked vault prolapse in 43% and uterovaginal prolapse or enterocele in 57%. Patient follow up was at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and then annually. Data was collected prospectively at the time of initial recruitment, during hospital stay and at the end of each follow up visit.

Results: Hysterectomy was performed in 117 patients and anterior colporrhaphy in 182. The mean operative time for the entire surgery was 65.6 min (S.D. 27.4, range 20-160 min) and estimated blood loss was 81.8 ml (S.D. 92, range 20-800 ml). After a mean follow up period of 57 months (range 24-84), vault support was maintained in 96%; recurrent vault prolapse occurred in 12 patients (4%) and the mean vaginal length at 1 and 5 years of follow up was 8+/-0.9 and 7.8+/-1.2 cm. Symptomatic cystocele occurred in 15 patients (5%). There were six recurrences of rectocele (2%) and there was no enterocele recurrence. Sexual function was maintained in all sexually active women and 43% reported improvement in sexual function. Out of 14 women who complained of fecal incontinence, 10 (71%) reported cure and 3 (21%) improved after surgery.

Conclusions: Vaginal sacrospinous colpopexy is associated with a high long-term success rate in correcting upper genital prolapse.