Different Surgical Techniques Used for Prolapse Repair in Elderly Patient

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a global health care issue that could have a significant impact on pelvic floor function and quality of life (QOL), while seldom having the potential to be life-threatening. Prevalence of POP increases with age. In women older than 80, 11% undergo a surgical procedure. The incidence of degenerative diseases and multiple co-morbidities increases with age, and advanced age is also associated with an increase in morbidity generally for gynecologic procedures. Furthermore, greater comorbidity beforehand can predispose patients to postoperative complications such as bleeding, hematoma, pain, infectious. As a result hospital stays are longer and the surgical results are compromised.

Surgical techniques should optimize functional results and minimize complications. In POP surgery, younger women are good candidates for sacrocolpopexy (SCP), because of the improved long term functional result, while women older than 80 may have a satisfactory outcome with fewer complication with a vaginal repair with mesh (VMR) or native tissue (NTR). The increasing prevalence of POP, and the increasing population of women aged 70-80 requires an evaluation of the appropriate surgical management since women in this age group may be candidates for all types of surgical repair.