Additional treatments, satisfaction, symptoms and quality of life in women 1 year after vaginal and abdominal pelvic organ prolapse repair

• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-018-1846-5
• Publication Date: 2018-03-16T06:18:21Z
• Authors: Laura N. Nguyen; Morgan Gruner; Kim A. Killinger; Kenneth M. Peters; Judith A. Boura; Michelle Jankowski; Larry T. Sirls
• Keywords: Reoperation; Time Factors; Middle Aged; Surgical Mesh; Health Surveys; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Urogenital Surgical Procedures; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Patient Satisfaction; Recurrence; Abdomen; Retreatment; Vagina; Quality of Life; Humans; Female; Symptom Assessment; Aged

To evaluate additional treatments, symptoms, satisfaction and quality of life 1 year after vaginal and abdominal pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair.Adult women enrolled in a prospective POP database were reviewed. Baseline and outcomes data 1 year after surgery were collected including the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and mailed surveys. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact tests and t tests.Of 222 women, 147 (66%) had vaginal and 75 (34%) had abdominal repair. Vaginal group patients were older (64.1 vs. 59.7 years; p = 0.003), but other demographic characteristics did not differ. Vaginal group patients had lower baseline anterior and apical prolapse grades (anterior 2.7 vs. 3.1, p = 0.003; apical 2.1 vs. 3.1, p < 0.001). Baseline PFDI scores were similar. Scores improved significantly for both groups after 1 year, but 1-year PFDI scores were significantly higher in the vaginal group (45.6 vs. 32.6, p = 0.032). Scores were not different when adjusted for age and prolapse grade (p = 0.24). At 1 year, most patients in the vaginal and abdominal groups reported moderately/markedly improved overall symptoms (72/108 vs. 50/60, p = 0.030) and quality of life (89/101 vs. 54/59, p = 0.601). Most were satisfied with surgery (68/101 vs. 48/59, p = 0.067). Retreatment rates (pelvic floor physical therapy, medications, coping strategies, surgical procedures) were similar (34/109 vs. 15/62, p = 0.381). Vaginal mesh use did not affect additional treatments, patient satisfaction or symptoms.Although symptoms improve and most women are satisfied with surgery, about one in four women have additional therapy in the first year after POP repair.