PURPOSE: Rectal prolapse and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse often occur together and constitute a management problem. This article describes a combined colorectal and gynecologic approach to surgical management and reports the follow-up results of treatment. METHOD: Patients who presented with both rectal and gynecologic symptoms of prolapse subsequent to hysterectomy and were found on clinical examination to have overt and/or occult prolapse of both the rectum and the vaginal vault were considered suitable for a combined operative procedure. This consisted of an abdominal "mesh" rectopexy, abdominal closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac (enhanced by intravaginal endoscopic transillumination), and a colpopexy attaching forward extensions of the same mesh to the apex of the anatomically restored and reinforced vaginal vault. The operation was also accompanied by a colporrhaphy if prolapse of the lower one-third of the vagina was still evident on completion of the abdominal procedures. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients underwent combined surgery. Sixty of these patients had a concurrent vaginal repair. The mean follow-up time was approximately five years. There were no perioperative deaths, and the morbidity rate was 9 percent. No injury occurred to the urinary tract, and no wound or pelvic infections were evident. There was no recurrence of either the rectal or vaginal vault prolapse. Improvement occurred in all major symptoms, especially in pelvic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of coexisting rectal and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse can be corrected by combined abdominal colporectopexy and closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac. For 89 patients this operation provided considerable relief of symptoms, with no evidence of recurrence of rectal or vaginal vault prolapse at follow-up.
PURPOSE: Rectal prolapse and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse often occur together and constitute a management problem. This article describes a combined colorectal and gynecologic approach to surgical management and reports the follow-up results of treatment. METHOD:Patients who presented with both rectal and gynecologic symptoms of prolapse subsequent to hysterectomy and were found on clinical examination to have overt and/or occult prolapse of both the rectum and the vaginal vault were considered suitable for a combined operative procedure. This consisted of an abdominal "mesh" rectopexy, abdominal closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac (enhanced by intravaginal endoscopic transillumination), and a colpopexy attaching forward extensions of the same mesh to the apex of the anatomically restored and reinforced vaginal vault. The operation was also accompanied by a colporrhaphy if prolapse of the lower one-third of the vagina was still evident on completion of the abdominal procedures. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients underwent combined surgery. Sixty of these patients had a concurrent vaginal repair. The mean follow-up time was approximately five years. There were no perioperative deaths, and the morbidity rate was 9 percent. No injury occurred to the urinary tract, and no wound or pelvic infections were evident. There was no recurrence of either the rectal or vaginal vault prolapse. Improvement occurred in all major symptoms, especially in pelvic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of coexisting rectal and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse can be corrected by combined abdominal colporectopexy and closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac. For 89 patients this operation provided considerable relief of symptoms, with no evidence of recurrence of rectal or vaginal vault prolapse at follow-up.