Effects of transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele on symptom-specific distress and impact on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To determine symptom-specific distress and quality-of-life impact outcomes among women who had undergone transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele.

METHODS

Women who underwent transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, between April 2006 and June 2009 were included in a retrospective case series. Minimum follow-up was 1 year post-surgery. Women who underwent concomitant surgery, other than perineoplasty and/or midurethral sling, were excluded. End points were assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7).

RESULTS

Overall, 113 women underwent repair of symptomatic rectocele, of whom 69 (61.1%) completed preoperative questionnaires and 66 (58.4%) responded to follow-up questionnaires. Mean time from surgery was 31.2±11.2 months. PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores were significantly improved following surgery, with a median pre- and post-surgery difference of 35.4 (P<0.001) and 31.0 (P=0.002), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Patients who underwent transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele reported improvements in symptom-specific distress and impact on quality of life.