Transperineal rectocele repair with polyglycolic acid mesh: a case series.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of transperineal rectocele repair using polyglycolic acid mesh.

METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive females with predominant, symptomatic Stage II or Stage III rectocele underwent transperineal rectocele repair using polyglycolic acid (Soft PGA Felt(R)) mesh and finished their six-month follow-up. No additional interventions, including levatoroplasty or perineorraphy, were performed. The preoperative and postoperative symptom scores and stages of the posterior vaginal wall prolapse were recorded. The end points were reassessed at six months, postoperatively.

RESULTS: Preoperatively, 39 patients had Stage II and 44 patients had Stage III rectocele. The mean total symptom score was 9.87 +/- 1.93, which was reduced to 1.62 +/- 0.59 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Objective evaluation of anatomic repair revealed that 74 patients (89.2 percent) had anatomic cure. Surgical complications were seen in a total of seven patients (8.4 percent), including hemorrhage (3.6 percent) and wound infection (4.8 percent). Mesh erosion, mesh infection, or worsening of sexual function was not noted.

CONCLUSIONS: Transperineal repair of rectocele with the polyglycolic acid mesh is an efficient therapy for patients with rectocele. It is highly successful in eliminating symptoms of obstructed defecation, and it is free of significant complications.