Outcome and medium-term functional results of anterior rectopexy for rectocele repair

Abstract

This retrospective observational study was designed to assess patients’ satisfaction after anterior rectopexy, with or without sacropexy, for treatment of symptomatic rectocele in a group of women with anterior rectoceles. Between February 1995 and March 2011, all female patients who underwent an anterior rectopexy for large (>grade 2) anterior rectocele were included in the study. Preoperatively, the rectocele was assessed at rectovaginal examination and a defecography was performed. Rectovaginal examination was repeated in all patients 6 weeks postoperatively and a control defecography was performed 6 months after surgery. Follow-up included a standard telephone questionnaire and chart review. The surgical techniques used were anterior rectopexy (ARP; n = 21) and ARP + sacropexy (ARP + SP; n = 20). Mean age of the study group was 60 years (range = 36–77) and median parity was 2.6 (range = 0–8). Median follow-up from anterior ARP ± SP to functional assessment was 40 months (range = 4–83). In both groups, two of the initial main clinical symptoms (discomfort due to feeling of prolapse and outlet obstruction) improved significantly (p < 0.05). Anterior rectopexy (ARP ± SP) restores durable anatomic support and functional improvement in female patients with a large (>grade 2) anterior rectocele.