Reoperation rate for traditional anterior vaginal repair: analysis of 207 cases with a median 4-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To determine the reoperation rate for symptomatic recurrence of cystoceles following traditional anterior colporrhaphy (without mesh).

METHODS

Retrospective case note review of 207 cases of primary anterior colporrhaphy with/without other prolapse surgery. All patients received a 3-month clinic follow-up. Reoperation details for prolapse and/or urinary incontinence were obtained from patients general practitioners with a median follow-up of 50 months.

RESULTS

The median age was 60 years (32-85), and median parity was 2. Twenty-nine of 207 (14%) patients had previous gynecological surgery. While the anatomical recurrence rate of cystoceles at 3 months postoperatively was 12%, the reoperation rate for recurrent cystocele by 50 months was 3.4%. Overall, 9.1% of the group underwent prolapse or incontinence surgery during this period.

CONCLUSIONS

While the anatomical recurrence rates for cystocele following traditional anterior colporrhaphy might be high, the low reoperation rate at more than 4 years (3.4%) suggests that patient's symptoms might not be bothersome enough to require further surgery. Both subjective and anatomical outcomes are required to assess the outcome of both traditional and new prolapse procedures.