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Original Article pISSN: 0513-5796, eISSN: 1976-2437 Yonsei Med J 50(6): 807-813, 2009
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome and major complication rates of
abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 57 Korean women
who underwent ASC with mesh for symptomatic uterine or vault prolapse and attended follow-up visits for at least 5
years. Forty-seven women with urodynamic stress incontinence concomitantly received a modified Burch
colposuspension. The long-term anatomical and functional outcomes and complication rates were assessed. Results:
The median follow-up was 66 months (range 60-108). Overall anatomical success rates (no recurrence of any prolapse
≥ stage II according to the pelvic organ prolapse-quantification system) were 86.0%. Urinary urgency and voiding
dysfunction were significantly improved after surgery, however, recurrent stress urinary incontinence developed in
44.7% (21/47) of cases and half of them developed within 1-3 months post-op. Bowel function (constipation and fecal
incontinence) and sexual function (sexual activity and dyspareunia) did not significantly change after surgery. Major
complication requiring reoperation or intensive care developed in 12 (21.0%) cases. Conclusion: ASC provides
durable pelvic support, however, it may be ineffective for alleviating pelvic floor dysfunction except for urinary
urgency and voiding dysfunction, and it contains major complication risk that cannot be overlooked.
major complication rates of ASC. Allen-type stirrups. Laparotomy was performed through a
Pfannenstiel incision. For patients with urodynamic stress
incontinence, a modified Burch colposuspension was per-
MATERIALS AND METHODS formed with non-absorbable sutures (2-0 prolene, mono-
filament polypropylene) prior to entering the peritoneal
A total of 65 women underwent ASC for symptomatic cavity as previously described.7 After entering peritoneal
uterine or vault prolapse at the Department of Obstetrics cavity, hysterectomy was performed. If the uterus had
and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and already been removed, after identifying the vaginal vault,
Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University Health System, its overlying peritoneum was dissected away, exposing the
Seoul, Korea between March 1999 and March 2003. Of superior aspects of the pubocervical and rectovaginal
them, 57 women who attended follow-up visits for at least fascia to provide a sufficiently broad area of at least 3×5
5 years were included in this retrospective study [8 women cm for attaching the mesh. Then, the peritoneum over the
were excluded due to follow-up loss (n = 4) and short-term sacral promontory was incised vertically and loose areolar
follow-up visits (n = 4)]. The study was approved by our tissues were gently dissected to expose the anterior longi-
Institutional Review Board. tudinal ligament overlying the sacrum, taking care to avoid
All patients were preoperatively assessed through a the injury of presacral vessels. The peritoneal incision was
standard history taking, pelvic examination and urodynamic extended to the posterior cul-de-sac with caution to avoid
study. Standard history taking consisted of age, parity, damage to the rectum or the ureter. Three non-absorbable
body mass index, menopause and hormone replacement sutures (5-0 black braided silk sutures, Mersilk) were
therapy status, previous hysterectomy and pelvic recons- placed just below the level of the sacral promontory and
tructive surgery, and urinary (urinary urgency, stress urinary the sutures were tagged with curved hemostat clamps.
incontinence, voiding dysfunction), bowel (constipation, Then, elevating the vaginal vault cephalad using sponge
fecal incontinence) and sexual (sexual activity, dyspareunia) sticks placed into the vagina, three delayed absorbable
symptoms. Urinary urgency and stress urinary incontinence sutures (2-0 polysorb, coated braided lactomer) were placed
were defined according to the recommendations of the on the anterior and posterior vaginal wall, one delayed
International Continence Society.4 Voiding dysfunction absorbable suture (2-0 polysorb, coated braided lactomer)
was defined as weak urine stream or urinary retention. on each side of the vaginal vault, respectively. The sutures
Constipation was evaluated according to Rome II criteria.5 were brought through the two pieces of mesh, tied down,
Fecal incontinence was defined as the involuntary loss of and cut. The appropriate length of the mesh was determined
solid or liquid stool per rectum. The woman who had sexual as one that avoids any tension on the mesh and vagina. The
intercourse more than once a month was considered “sex- excess mesh was cut and removed, and the promontory
ually active.” Pelvic examinations were performed in a 45 O
sutures were then brought through the remaining mesh and
upright sitting position during a Valsalva’s maneuver with tied down. After betadine irrigation, retroperitonealization
maximal effort by the same examiner (S.W. Bai). Pelvic of the mesh was performed with interrupted 2-0 cat-gut
organ prolapse was quantified according to the POP-Q chromic sutures. Then, the abdomen was closed in the
system.6 Urodynamic studies (Dantec-5000, Copenhagen, usual manner. Posterior colporrhaphy was done in all but
Denmark) included uroflowmetry, multichannel cystometry, one woman to treat remnant posterior defects.
measurements of Valsalva leak point pressure, and urethral Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after
pressure profilometry. Measurements of Valsalva leak surgery, and annually thereafter. At each visit, urinary,
point pressure were performed with bladder volumes of bowel, and sexual symptoms, and other problems were
200 mL with manual reduction of prolapse. assessed by the same physician (S.W. Bai). The changes of
All procedures were performed by one senior surgeon POP-Q stage were also examined.
(S.W. Bai). Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, CR Bard, The Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test and chi-
Covington, GA, USA) and Marlex mesh (polypropylene, square test were used for statistical analysis using the
CR Bard, Covington, GA, USA) were employed during SPSS software 14.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). A p-
this study period. The mesh was fashioned from two sheets, value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
both 10 cm in length and tapering from a width of 5 cm at
the vaginal end to 3 cm at the sacral end. The surgical
RESULTS
techniques were as follows:
up was 66 months (range 60-108). (3/47 vs. 0/10, p = 1.000) and posterior prolapse (7/47 vs.
0/10, p = 0.333). The median recurrence time was 18
Anatomical treatment outcomes months (range 3-60 months). Five women experienced the
Anatomical success rates were 100% when defined as lack recurrence within 2 years [2 (3 months), 1 (6 months), 1
of apical prolapse ≥ stage II postoperatively, and 86.0% (12 months), and 1 (24 months)], however, 3 had relapse
when defined as no recurrence of any prolapse ≥ stage II of prolapse after 2 years [1 (48 months), 1 (36 months), and
(Table 2). All recurrences were observed in cases having 1 (60 months)]. Two women with symptomatic recurrent
undergone concomitant modified Burch colposuspension. prolapse were treated using pessary.
However, when compared to cases not having undergone
concomitant Burch colposuspension, there was no signi- Functional outcomes
ficant difference in recurrence rates of anterior prolapse Following surgery, overall urinary function was significantly
improved, however, 44.7% (21/47) of women experienced
Table 1. Preoperative Characteristics of the Study Population recurrent stress urinary incontinence, which was defined as
Study group (n = 57) the presence of stress-incontinence symptom and positive
Age (yrs, mean ± SD) 62.2 ± 10.0 cough stress test after surgery (Table 3). The median
Parity (median, range) 3 (1 - 10) recurrence time was 3 months (range 1-84 months). Of
2
Body mass index (kg/m , mean ± SD) 24.1 ± 2.9 them, 2 underwent reoperation [1 (sling operation, cured),
Menopause (n, %) 52 (91.2) and 1 (tension-free vaginal tape, not cured)]. The incidences
Hormone replacement therapy (n, %) 8 (15.4) of de novo urinary urgency, de novo stress urinary incon-
tinence, and de novo voiding dysfunction were 5/35 (14.3%),
Prior hysterectomy (n, %) 19 (33.3)
1/10 (10.0%), and 1/46 (2.2%) respectively. Of 13 women
Prior pelvic reconstruction (n, %) 6 (10.5)
who had constipation preoperatively, 3 (23.1%) had
POP-Q stage (n, %)
persistent symptoms after surgery. Three (6.8%) women
III 24 (42.1) complained of newly developed constipation following
IV 33 (57.9) surgery. One woman who had fecal incontinence preoper-
POP-Q, pelvic organ prolapse-quantification. atively, still had symptoms after surgery and another
Table 2. Pre- and Postoperative (at Last Follow-Up Visit) POP-Q Stages
Compartment Stage Preoperative (n, %) Postoperative (n, %)
Apical 0 0 52 (91.2)
I 0 5 (8.8)
II 11 (19.3) 0
III 17 (29.8) 0
IV 29 (50.9) 0
Anterior 0 1 (1.8) 48 (84.2)
I 1 (1.8) 6 (10.5)
II 2 (3.5) 2 (3.5)
III 23 (40.4) 1 (1.8)
IV 30 (52.6) 0
Posterior 0 0 42 (80.7)
I 0 8 (12.3)
II 13 (22.8) 5 (7.0)
III 19 (33.3) 2 (3.5)
IV 25 (43.9) 0
Overall 0 0 36 (63.2)
I 0 13 (22.8)
II 0 6 (10.5)
III 24 (42.1) 2 (3.5)
IV 33 (57.9) 0
POP-Q, pelvic organ prolapse-quantification.
Table 3. Pre- and Postoperative (at Last Follow-Up Visit) Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Preoperative Postoperative
Urinary urgency (n, %) 22 (38.6) 8 (14.0)*
Stress urinary incontinence (n, %) 47 (82.5) 22 (36.8)*
Voiding dysfunction (n, %) 11 (19.3) 2 (3.5)*
Constipation (n, %) 13 (22.8) 6 (10.5)
Fecal incontinence (n, %) 1 (1.8) 2 (3.5)
Sexual inactivity (n, %) 37 (64.9) 38 (66.7)
Dyspareunia (n, %) 2 / 20 (10.0) 2 / 20 (3.5)
Aware of prolapse (n, %) 57 (100) 2 (3.5)*
*p value < 0.05 (compared with preoperative status).
Table 4. Periop- and Postoperative Complications medical treatment. Three experienced incisional hernia and
Complication n (%) underwent reoperation (at 4 months, 4 years, and 6 years
Intraoperative blood loss requiring after surgery). Right ureteral obstruction occurred 3 years
3 (5.3) post op in 2 cases and they underwent reoperation (1 un-
transfusion
derwent stent insertion and 1 received right nephrectomy).
Intraoperative bladder, ureter and
0 Vaginal vault healing problems were noted only in cases
bowel injury using Teflon mesh [4/26 vs. 0/31 (Teflon mesh), p = 0.038].
Deep vein thrombosis 1 (1.8) Of the 38 women who underwent a hysterectomy at the
Wound infection 1 (1.8) time of ASC, 4 (20.0%) had erosion, but, no mesh erosion
Incisional hernia 3 (5.3) occurred (p = 0.290) in 19 women who did not receive a
Ureteral obstruction hysterectomy concomitantly. All events happened between
Teflon mesh (n = 26) 0 1 to 3 years after surgery. Two cases were cured by the long-
Marlex mesh (n = 31) 2 (6.5) term treatment with local estrogen and antibiotics, and in
Small bowel obstruction the rest 2 cases, conservative treatment failed because of
Teflon mesh (n = 26) 0 infection and reoperation was performed for mesh removal.
Marlex mesh (n = 31) 1 (1.8)
Vault healing problem DISCUSSION
Teflon mesh (n = 26) 4 (15.4)
Marlex mesh (n = 31) 0 In spite of extensive studies on the treatment outcomes of
Reoperation for the complication 8 (14.0)* ASC, there have been few reports on its long-term efficacy
*Reason for reoperation; 1 (deep vein thrombosis), 2 (mesh infection), 2 (right and safety. Moreover, in previous studies those presenting
ureteral obstruction), 3 (incisional hernia). a long-term outcome, adequate information cannot be
woman complained of de novo fecal incontinence. Thirty- acquired because of inadequate evaluation of pelvic organ
seven women who had been sexually inactive preoperati- prolapse, poor description of the pelvic floor dysfunction,
vely did not resume sexual activity after surgery. Of 20 and the use of inappropriate surgical techniques (Table 5).7-11
sexually active subjects before surgery, 1 (5.0%) did not In the present study, we confirmed the long-term efficacy
have sexual intercourse after surgery because of dyspa- of ASC. The anatomical success rates were 100% for apical
reunia due to mesh erosion. prolapse and 86.0% for any prolapse. Failures after ASC
typically occur in other compartments, which have been
Complications reported as having values up to 29% and 57% in the
The incidences of peri- and postoperative complications anterior and posterior compartments, respectively.12,13
are presented in Table 4. Major complication requiring Besides the difference in pelvic organ prolapse evaluation
reoperation or intensive care developed in 12 (21.0%) cases. system employed and definition of recurrence, relatively
Two women were hospitalized for a long period due to low recurrence rates in the present study can be explained
wound infection or small bowel obstruction. And 8 women by the difference in surgical techniques. There have been
underwent reoperation for the complication. One experien- several modifications in the surgical techniques used since
ced deep vein thrombosis at the postoperative third day the introduction of particular surgical techniques by Lane.
and required thrombectomy because of no response to One major difference is the attachment of the mesh to the
Mesh was used in 5 cases. The rest used rectus fascia (14) or allograft (dura mater, 3) or directly attached the vaginal apex to presacral fascia (4).
follow-up. However, only 30% of women
dysfunction (19.2), sexually a
ctive (35), de novo DP (11.1)
Failure was defined as no operation for pelvic organ prolapse or a positive answer to question 5 on the PFDI questionnaire.
was 18 months. Nearly half of the recur-
*Mesh was attached to only vaginal apex or vaginal apex and anterior vagina instead of the anterior and posterior vagina.
40.0
90.6
81.8
�
97.6
97.8
85.0
100
Others included Marlex, Mersilene, or Gore-Tex. The rest 8 used fascia lata.
Mersilene
(0.7 - 13.4) Others (12)
Mersilene
Marlex
Mesh
§
(5)
(10 - 17)
(2 - 20)
10.5
13.7
5.8
7.3
85 (0)
11 (0)
Hilger, et al.11*
Lefranc, et al.7
Reddy, et al.10
Podratz, et al.
‖
§
ther studies will be needed to evaluate whether another tains major complication risk that cannot be overlooked.
procedure such as a sling improves continence status further. Large population-based long-term follow-up studies
In the present study, urinary urgency and voiding dys- using disease-specific validated questionnaires on pelvic
function were significantly improved, possibly as a result floor dysfunction are needed in the future to draw a more
of prolapse correction, however, bowel functions were not definite conclusion.
improved after surgery. This finding is consistent with the
results of other studies.3 Lack of bowel function improve-
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