Posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse: primary repair in 693 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the results of primary repair of posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse in a current, large series of patients with long-term follow-up.

METHODS: From January 1976 to December 1987, 693 patients underwent primary repair of vault prolapse at the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo culdoplasty technique was used in 95% of these patients. Patients were followed up by reference to their Mayo Clinic medical records, a specifically designed questionnaire, and pelvic examination in a subgroup of patients.

RESULTS: The median age at operation was 66 years. Abdominal hysterectomy had been performed on 49.5% of patients and vaginal hysterectomy on 43.4% (hysterectomy type was not documented on 7.1%). The median number of years to vault prolapse repair after hysterectomy was 15.8 (range 0.4-48.4). Information about prolapse after primary repair was available for 504 patients (72.7%) and 80 had evidence or complaint (bulge, protrusion) of recurrent prolapse. Thirty-six of 693 patients (5.2%) had subsequent prolapse repair. Eighty-two percent of patients indicated satisfaction with the result. Complications of operation included entry into the bladder or rectum (2.3% of patients), vault hematoma (1.3%), cuff infection (0.6%), and ureteral complications (0.6%). The number of patients presenting for vault prolapse repair increased during the study interval.

CONCLUSION: The Mayo culdoplasty can be performed with minimal morbidity. It achieved an anatomic restoration of upper vaginal support in a high percentage of patients with long-term follow-up.