Prolapse surgery in women of 80 years and older using the Prolift™ technique

Abstract

Treatment of genital prolapse in very elderly women is challenging. Although pessary therapy and colpocleisis are effective, they also have drawbacks. There is only scarce literature about surgical therapy in this age cohort, particularly regarding the use of meshes. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, intraoperative complications, and short-term follow-up results of the Prolift™ technique in 62 women aged over 80 years. Mean follow-up time was 6.2 months. Prolift™ implantation was well tolerated by patients with regard to surgery and anesthesia, and hospitalization was relatively short (mean, 3.9 days). Intraoperative complications occurred in 1.6%. Early postoperative complications included increased post-void residual volume (25.8%), urinary tract infection (3.2%), and moderate or severe pain (17.7%). Five patients (8.3%) developed prolapse recurrence, and mesh retraction was observed in six patients (10%). There was no mesh erosion at short-term follow-up. Treatment of advanced prolapse using Prolift™ in very elderly women is a feasible, safe, and effective surgical option, preserving a functional vagina. Thus, this may represent one alternative to colpocleisis.