Gastrointestinal complications following abdominal sacrocolpopexy for advanced pelvic organ prolapse.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this secondary analysis of the "Colpopexy And Urinary Reduction Efforts" (CARE) study were to estimate the incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal complications and identify risk factors.


METHODS
We prospectively identified gastrointestinal complications and serious adverse events (SAE) for 12 months after sacrocolpopexy. Two surgeons independently reviewed reports of ileus or small bowel obstruction (SBO).


RESULTS
Eighteen percent of 322 women (average age 61.3 years) reported "nausea, emesis, bloating, or ileus" during hospitalization and 9.8% at 6 weeks. Nineteen women (5.9%; CI 3.8%, 9.1%) had a possible ileus or SBO that generated SAE reports: 4 (1.2%, CI 0.5%,3.2%) were reoperated for SBO, 11 (3.4%, CI 1.9%,6.1%) were readmitted for medical management, and 4 had a prolonged initial hospitalization. Older age (P < .001) was a risk factor for ileus or SBO.


CONCLUSIONS
One in 20 women experiences significant gastrointestinal morbidity after sacrocolpopexy. This information will aid preoperative counseling.
Whitehead
William E
WE
Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Bradley
Catherine S
CS
Brown
Morton B
MB
Brubaker
Linda
L
Gutman
Robert E
RE
Varner
R Edward
RE
Visco
Anthony G
AG
Weber
Anne M
AM
Zyczynski
H
H
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015994:Incidence; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012447:Sacrum / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*