[Colpocleisis without mid-urethral sling: A valid concept in the elderly with vault vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence?].

OBJECTIVES: Estimate the urinary impact of vaginal occlusion without mid-urethral sling in the elderly with vault vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series of 22 women who underwent a vaginal closure between May 2005 and April 2009. Postoperating evaluation of the impact on the urinary tract of this surgery and of the satisfaction of the patients to a phone investigation.

RESULTS: Seventeen patients with mean age 80 years answered the phone questionnaire. With a mean follow up of 23.9 months, the rate of satisfaction amounts to 88%. The rate of recurrence is 11%. Urge incontinence decreases from 36 to 24% and there is no stress urinary incontinence postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Colpocleisis is a surgical technique which meets high rates of satisfaction and which seems effective in the treatment of urinary incontinence associated with vaginal vault prolapse in the elderly.