Constipation symptoms before and after vaginal and abdominal pelvic reconstructive surgery

Abstract

This article aims to evaluate how constipation symptoms change after pelvic reconstructive surgery using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom Questionnaire (PAC-SYM). Our primary hypothesis was that constipation would improve after surgery. Ninety-four subjects completed the PAC-SYM before and 7 weeks after pelvic reconstructive surgery from 2007 through 2009 inclusive. PAC-SYM scores were compared for the cohort before and 7 weeks post-surgery and based on route of surgery: vaginal or abdominal. Baseline PAC-SYM scores between those undergoing abdominal or vaginal reconstructive surgery were not significantly different (0.76 versus 0.83, respectively; p = 0.586). Subjects in the vaginal surgery group had a significant reduction in PAC-SYM scores, 0.83 to 0.62 (p = 0.049). After abdominal surgery, subjects had an increase in abdominal subscale scores, 0.69 to 1.03 (p = 0.012). Women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery may have a short-term improvement in constipation symptoms, while those undergoing abdominal surgery have worsening of abdominal constipation symptoms.