[Transvaginal surgery for genital prolapse in women aged over 80 years: Results in 48 procedures].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity and the effectiveness of the vaginal surgical treatment for women over 80 years of age with genital prolapse.


METHODS
All the women over 80 years operated in our institution between 1996 and 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. We examined the risk and the effectiveness of this surgery.


RESULTS
Forty-eight women underwent surgery during this period. No colpocleisis was performed. The most frequent surgery was a combination of vaginal patch plastron, Richter's spinous fixation and posterior perineorrhaphy. No major intra- or post-operative complication occurred. One woman required blood transfusion. The most frequent postoperative complication was voiding difficulties (12%), which had disappeared 3 months later. A partial stenosis of a left ureter with ureterohydronephrosis occurred, requiring endoscopic dilatation. At 3 months, anatomic and functional outcome was good in 92% of women. The number of patients lost to follow-up at one year was to large to draw any conclusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Complete transvaginal surgical treatment is a safe procedure for elderly women which provides good short-term effectiveness.
Boulanger
L
L
Service de Gynécologie Médico-Chirurgicale, Hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre, Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex.
Lucot
J-P
JP
Boukerrou
M
M
Collinet
P
P
Cosson
M
M
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina