title: Four-corner colposuspension: clinical and functional results.
abstract: We report our experience with four-corner colposuspension and the long-term functional and objective results. Thirty-seven women aged 42-74 affected by cystocele, associated with stress incontinence in 27, underwent four-corner colposuspension, combined with posterior colpoperineoplasty in 5 and vaginal wall sling in 5. Preoperative work-up included clinical examination, a symptoms questionnaire, transrectal dynamic ultrasonography and a urodynamic test. The mean follow-up to date is 62 months (range 36-83). Check-ups included a clinical examination, responses to a questionnaire on symptoms, uroflowmetry, transrectal ultrasound, and a urodynamic test in 25. All patients underwent four-corner colposuspension, together with vaginal wall sling in 5 with severe incontinence and colpoperineoplasty in another 5 with symptomatic rectoceles. There were no major complications. The urethrocele was stably corrected in all. No relapses occurred in 19 patients with grades I-II cystocele preoperatively. Various forms of prolapse recurred in 12/18 patients with grade III cystocele. Incontinence was successfully resolved in 23/27 patients (85%). Instability persisted in 8/14 patients. Obstruction persisted in 6 patients with prolapse recurrence. The ideal candidate for four-corner suspension is a patient with moderate cystocele and no signs of uterine prolapse who may, or may not, be incontinent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Perugia, Italy. uropg@rdn.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pajoncini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zucchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lombi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mearini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014524:Urethral Obstruction; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*