Long-term follow-up after LeFort colpocleisis: patient satisfaction, regret rate, and pelvic symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term patient satisfaction, regret rate, and pelvic symptoms in older women who underwent LeFort colpocleisis.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent LeFort colpocleisis at least 3 years before was conducted. Records were reviewed for participant characteristics, comorbid conditions, and complications. The Patient Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) were used to evaluate self-perceived quality of life. Regret was assessed by one additional question: "Do you regret choosing to have vaginal closure surgery for prolapse (Yes/No)?"

RESULTS: LeFort colpocleisis accounted for 7.3% (42/572) of all the prolapse surgeries. Thirty-five of the women (83.3%) who responded were considered for statistical evaluation. Twenty-nine (82.9%) had at least one comorbid condition. After a median 5-year (range 3-7) follow-up period, no woman had experienced prolapse recurrence requiring a second surgery. No woman regretted having had the surgery. The satisfaction rate was 94.3%, with postoperative overactive bladder syndrome accounting for one "neither satisfied nor dissatisfied" woman and vaginal hematoma for another. Pelvic symptoms improved significantly from baseline (PFDI-20, preoperative 60.5 ± 29.5) to postoperative (14.1 ± 20.0, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: After long-term follow-up, LeFort colpocleisis still had a high satisfaction rate, a low regret rate, and a positive impact on pelvic symptoms.