Short-term results and long-term patients' appraisal of abdominal colposacropexy for treatment of genital and vaginal vault prolapse.

Objective: To evaluate short-term results and long-term patients' satisfaction of abdominal colposacropexy performed for massive genital prolapse in our institute during a 14-year period.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis was performed of 101 consecutive women who underwent abdominal colposacropexy. The procedure consisted of retroperitoneal interposition of a Mersilene mesh between a prolapsed vaginal vault or uterus and the anterior surface of the sacrum. A questionnaire was used to evaluate patients' satisfaction after surgery.

Results: In the short-term there was an acceptable rate of complications of surgery, comparable with that reported in the literature. Prolapse-related complaints evaluated by questionnaire were markedly diminished after surgery. Pain and functional complaints were only partly improved in a subgroup of patients. Only 32% of the patients responded that they were fully cured after operation.

Conclusions: Abdominal colposacropexy shows a particularly favorable result on prolapse-related complaints. Functional complaints and pain are not substantially relieved by this procedure. The complication rate of surgery is acceptable.