Clinical and Urodynamic Findings Before and After Surgical Repair of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Women With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between urodynamic findings and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) before and after surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with stage II or more anterior POP associated with LUTS and eligible for surgical repair of POP were included in this prospective study. All cases had clinical evaluation and urodynamic testing (UDS) before and 6 months after surgical repair of POP.

RESULTS

Mean age was 45 ± 9 years. Mean BMI was 28 ± 6 kg/m2. Most cases were multiparous, had stage III cystocele (50/74, 68%), and an associating apical prolapse (37/74, 50%). Native tissue repair was done in 53/74 (72%) cases with a concomitant anti-incontinence procedure in 41/74 (55%) for overt (26/74, 35%) or occult (15/74, 20%) stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Preoperative UDS revealed detrusor overactivity (DO) in 19/56 (34%) patients of those presenting with storage LUTS and an obstructed detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate in 20/26 (77%) patients presenting with voiding LUTS. At the 6-month postoperative follow-up, 61/74 (82%) patients had marked improvement of their LUTS, SUI resolved in 39/41 (95%) patients and 1/33 (3%) patient developed de novo SUI. Preoperative DO and post-void residual urine volume were not related to the postoperative improvement, or persistence of LUTS. Meanwhile, detrusor underactivity was detected both on preoperative and postoperative UDS of 4 patients with persistent voiding LUTS.

CONCLUSION

Patients had significant improvement in LUTS after POP surgery with or without an anti-incontinence procedure. Detrusor underactivity was associated with persistence of voiding LUTS. Meanwhile, preoperative DO and post-void residual urine volume were of limited prognostic value.