Efficacy of Le Fort operation and its impact on patients' quality of life

Abstract

To evaluate the objective and subjective effects of Le Fort operation and its impact on patients' quality of life before and after operation. A total of 48 patients with pelvic organ prolapse undergoing Le Fort operation from October 2005 to May 2010 were recruited. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed and regular follow-ups of pelvic examinations and questionnaires conducted. The questionnaires included pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) and pelvic floor distress impact questionnaire-short form 7 (PFIQ-7). Forty patients had complete follow-up data. Their mean follow-up period was 22.3 months (range: 12 - 42). Among them, there were recurrence (n = 1), new-onset stress urinary incontinence symptoms (n = 6) and new-onset colorectal-anal symptoms (n = 2). The postoperative scores of PFDI-20, PFIQ-7, UDI-6 and POPDI-6 decreased markedly (P < 0.05). Le Fort operation can significantly improve patients' quality of life and subjective prolapse symptoms and lower urinary tract. However its improvement of colorectal-anal symptoms remains to be defined.