Management of vaginal prolapse

Abstract

Vaginal prolapse is a common health problem, and although severe morbidity is rare, it can have marked effects on quality of life. The treatment of vaginal vault prolapse can be a difficult and challenging problem. A detailed history and clinical evaluation is required in order to plan the appropriate choice of procedure. There are numerous surgical procedures that have been described using either abdominal or vaginal approaches. The choice of procedure is often dependent on the individual surgeon's choice and experience, and should be tailored to the individual patient. The ideal procedure should have a low risk of morbidity and mortality, but should also have long-term durability. There is a need for large, randomized trials to evaluate surgical techniques to correct vaginal prolapse and related urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction. © 2006 Future Medicine Ltd.