title: Effects of transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele on symptom-specific distress and impact on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine symptom-specific distress and quality-of-life impact outcomes among women who had undergone transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who underwent transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, between April 2006 and June 2009 were included in a retrospective case series. Minimum follow-up was 1 year post-surgery. Women who underwent concomitant surgery, other than perineoplasty and/or midurethral sling, were excluded. End points were assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 113 women underwent repair of symptomatic rectocele, of whom 69 (61.1%) completed preoperative questionnaires and 66 (58.4%) responded to follow-up questionnaires. Mean time from surgery was 31.2±11.2 months. PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores were significantly improved following surgery, with a median pre- and post-surgery difference of 35.4 (P<0.001) and 31.0 (P=0.002), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who underwent transvaginal repair of symptomatic rectocele reported improvements in symptom-specific distress and impact on quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Polin
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.forename: Jeff M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Szychowski
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.forename: Holly E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020047:Rectocele / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery