[Enterocele: clinical risk factors and association with others pelvic floor disorders (about 544 defecographies)].

OBJECTIVE

To study, by means of defecography, clinical risk factors of enterocele and association with others pelvic floor disorders.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Five hundred and forty-four consecutive female patients were investigated by colpocystodefecography with contrast medium in the small bowel. One hundred and thirty-six women with enterocele were compared to 408 women without enterocele.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age, obstetrical history (parity, foetal macrosomia, instrumental extractions or perineal tear to delivery) between the two groups. More women with enteroceles had histories of hysterectomies (60% versus 24%) or cystopexies (29% versus 13%). Others pelvic floor disorders were associated in 91% of enterocele: rectocele (25%), cystocele (42%), uterine prolapse (28%), rectal intussusception (52%), rectal prolapse (4%) and abnormal perineal descent (30%). Stress urinary incontinence was significantly more frequent in women without enterocele.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSIONS

The study has demonstrated that previous hysterectomy and cystopexy increased the risk of enterocele formation and that enterocele and others pelvic floor disorders are often concomitant. Enterocele may have a pessary effect on urinary disorders. Results of colpocystodefecography reinforce the notion of pelvic floor local disease.