Colpohysterectomy with colpocleisis for complete utero-vaginal prolapse in elderly women

Objective: to report an objective and subjective long-term outcome after colpohysterectomy with colpocleisis in elderly patients. Material and method: we conducted a retrospective study in 32 patients over 65 years of age. Patient's characteristics, surgical data and the objective outcome were obtained from the patient's clinical records. Subjective outcome were obtained from a standardised telephone interview. Results: 32 subjects aged between 65 and 82 years with complete utero-vaginal prolapse, were treated by colpohysterectomy, colpocleisis, sub-uretral duplication, high elevator plication, anterior and posterior colporraphy. The average operating time was 83 mins (range 55130 mins), average haemoglobin decrease was 2,1 mg/dl (range 0,52,8 mg/dl). The average hospital stay was 8,3 days (range 6-16 days). The presence of prolapse was observed in two patients. The symptoms of stress incontinence persisted in two cases and appeared for the first time in two cases. No intraoperative complications occurred, instead postoperative complications occurred in 1 case (pelvic haematoma). The follow-up time ran between 6 months and 60 months. By telephone interview, 18 patients reported to be very satisfied, 10 patients reported just satisfied, and 4 patients not satisfied. Conclusion: colpohysterectomy with colpocleisis seems to be an effective treatment for complete utero-vaginal prolapse in elderly women.