title: Abdominal sacral colpopexy with prolene mesh.
abstract: The objective was to evaluate abdominal colposacropexy using Prolene mesh to correct total vaginal vault prolapse or total procidentia. Between 1994 and 1997 we performed colposacropexy on 15 patients for simple vaginal vault prolapse (in 7 cases after hysterectomy) and for total uterine prolapse in 8 cases. In these cases a simple abdominal hysterectomy was performed. We simultaneously performed colposacropexy with colposuspension according to the Burch technique for urinary stress incontinence in 6 cases. The colposacropexy technique consisted of isolating the vaginal apex and creating a retroperitoneal tunnel from the vagina to the sacral promontory. Between the vaginal cul de sac and the sacrum, a mesh of Prolene is inserted and fixed with non-absorbable sutures. The Foley catheter was removed after 4-12 days (average 5). Average follow-up was 15 months. No intraoperative complications occurred, and all patients who were sexually active have resumed normal sexual activity; no infections or rejections of the prostheses have been verified. We believe that it is very important to restore the normal anatomic support of the vaginal vault after prolapse. This strong support is assured by fixing the vaginal apex to the periosteum of the sacrum using Prolene mesh. Colposacropexy with Prolene mesh is a safe and effective technique for the surgical therapy of vaginal vault prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schettini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*