title: [Convalescence recommendations after incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery: A study of opinions among French surgeons].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since increased intra-abdominal pressure contributes to pelvic floor disorders, physicians commonly restrict various activities postoperatively: most patients are instructed to avoid lifting, exercise and heavy labour after surgery. The aim of this study was to describe advice and restrictions given by French surgeons to patients after urogynecological surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009, French urologists and gynaecologists surgeons received a tested questionnaire about postoperative treatment and convalescence recommendations following stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 13 exclusions (missing data), 76 (85%) of the questionnaires were suitable for analysis. The expected postoperative hospital stay was median 3 days (range, 3-4) following surgery by vaginal route or laparoscopic sacral colpopexy and 5 days (range, 4-6) following laparotomy (P<0.0001). The recommended sick leave was median 4 weeks (range, 2-8) for patients following pelvic organ prolapse surgery. The recommended time till recommencement of sexual intercourse was median 4 weeks (range, 2-12) following laparoscopic sacral colpopexy. The overall, great variance could not be explained by demographic differences between gynaecologists (male/female, private or public hospital, urologist/gynaecologist), but by surgical experience. Recommended lifting restrictions were median 6 weeks (range, 4-10) and 4 weeks (range, 2-8) following laparoscopic sacral colpopexy for low-experienced surgeons and high-experienced surgeons, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current activity restrictions often placed on postoperative patients show substantial variability. Evidence-based guidelines and consensus are desirable.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Antoine-Béclère, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, université Paris-Sud, Clamart, France. xavier.deffieux@abc.aphp.fr
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deffieux
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thubert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Tayrac
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amarenco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jousse
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Letouzey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D014572:Urology