title: Constipation symptoms before and after vaginal and abdominal pelvic reconstructive surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to evaluate how constipation symptoms change after pelvic reconstructive surgery using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom Questionnaire (PAC-SYM). Our primary hypothesis was that constipation would improve after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four subjects completed the PAC-SYM before and 7 weeks after pelvic reconstructive surgery from 2007 through 2009 inclusive. PAC-SYM scores were compared for the cohort before and 7 weeks post-surgery and based on route of surgery: vaginal or abdominal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline PAC-SYM scores between those undergoing abdominal or vaginal reconstructive surgery were not significantly different (0.76 versus 0.83, respectively; p = 0.586). Subjects in the vaginal surgery group had a significant reduction in PAC-SYM scores, 0.83 to 0.62 (p = 0.049). After abdominal surgery, subjects had an increase in abdominal subscale scores, 0.69 to 1.03 (p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery may have a short-term improvement in constipation symptoms, while those undergoing abdominal surgery have worsening of abdominal constipation symptoms.
authors: Division of Urogynecology, Hartford Hospital, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, USA. minitap@gmail.com
authors: Minita
authors: M
authors: Patel
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: O'Sullivan
authors: Christine A
authors: CA
authors: LaSala
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*