title: Culdocele repair in female pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review patients with a culdocele, a wide and deep cul-de-sac, and to report the results of treatment by sacrocolpopexy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 117 patients with a culdocele identified by clinical examination and intraoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and parity of the patients were 61.4 years and 3.1, respectively. Bladder complaints occurred in 46% of patients and bowel problems in 74% (mainly obstructed defecation). Something protruded through the vaginal introitus in 84% of patients. All patients were treated with a sacrocolpopexy: 96% with mobilization and elevation of the rectum (rectopexy), and 79% with Burch colposuspension. Follow-up results were obtained for 98% of the patients (mean, 14.7 months). Recurrent prolapse occurred in 10% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A culdocele differs from an enterocele because it a distended and deep cul-de-sac without a true hernia between the distal vagina and rectum. Sacrocolpopexy resulted in a 10% recurrence rate of prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. gnoghsc.md@uovs.ac.za
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cronjé
authors.forename: J A A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Beer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020047:Rectocele / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome