Rectocele repair: when and how?

Pelvic organ prolapse repair poses a unique challenge to the reconstructive pelvic surgeon. Traditional levator plication has been promoted for the past century and has recently been shown to create unsatisfactory functional results, among them dyspareunia. In an attempt to improve both functional and quality-of-life outcomes, new methods for posterior vaginal wall defect repair have been developed and are now undergoing critical evaluation. We present a review of posterior vaginal wall repair with a focus on new anatomic concepts and site-specific rectocele repair.