Severe pelvic organ prolapse treated by vaginal native tissue repair: long-term analysis of outcomes in 146 patients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of vaginal native tissue repair (VNTR) as a surgical treatment for severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and, second, to evaluate the impact on the quality-of-life (QoL) and sexual function.

METHODS: Women with symptomatic POP (≥III stage according to POP Quantification System) with or without stress urinary incontinence (SUI) underwent VNTR. The clinical stage, 3-day voiding diary, and urodynamic testing were evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative times, respectively. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire short form (PISQ-12), and the prolapse quality-of-life questionnaire (P-QoL) were administered.

RESULTS: One hundred forty-six patients were recruited. The median follow-up was 48 months (36-63). Fifty-two women (36%) had a previous hysterectomy, and 16 (11%) had a previous prolapse/continence surgery. Preoperatively, 135 (92.5%), 109 (74.7%), and 98 (67.1%) patients had anterior, central, and posterior descent ≥III stage, respectively. Thirty-two patients (22%) had concomitant diagnosis of SUI. Median operative time was 85 min (37-154), and median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days (2-4). No intraoperative severe complications occurred. At the long-term follow-up, the subjective cure rate for prolapse was 97.3% and the objective cure rate was 91.1%. A significant improvement of ICIQ-UI SF, the P-QoL, and the PISQ-12 was recorded at the follow-up (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: VNTR is effective, safe, and durable and improves POP-related symptoms and sexual function.