THE EXPERIENCE OF THE USE OF SYNTHETIC PROSTHESES FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE GENITAL PROLAPSE IN ELDERLY FEMALES

Background: Genital prolapse is one of the most difficult-to-solve problems of gynecology. Rates of relapse after surgical correction of this disorder amounts to 33–40%.Aim: To analyze the use of alloplastic materials for correction of severe forms of ptosis and prolapse of internal genitals in the elderly.Materials and methods: 228 females aged from 60 to 70 with genital prolapse grade III–IV (according to classification by Baden-Walker) were divided into 3 groups depending on the leading anatomical structure in the prolapse. In all patients, extraperitoneal colpopexy with a prolene mesh was performed, with additional perineal plastics, in 165 patients from Group 1 (mean age, 63 years) being an anterior plastics, in 47 patients from Group 2 (mean age, 65 years) – posterior, in 12 patients from Group 3 (mean age, 68 years) – total. Efficacy of surgery was assessed at 2 to 4 months according to degree of genital prolapse, absence of erosions of vaginal walls and absence of the alloplast shrinkage and/or displacement.Results: Almost in 50% patients, a latent form of urine incontinence was diagnosed that required an urethropexy by a free synthetic loop through a transobturator approach. Frequency of intraoperational complications was low (n = 1). Among post-operation complications, 60% patients from Groups 1 and 3 had urination disorders that resolved by days 4–5 after surgery with anti-inflammatory treatment and with the use of agents increasing the detrusor tone. Frequency of vaginal wall erosions and of a partial prosthesis expulsion was 4.2% each in Groups 1 and 2. There were no vaginal wall erosions in Group 3. Clinically insignificant partial shrinkage of the prolene mesh was noted in 4.5, 4.2 and 5.9% of cases in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After the surgical correction, in 100% of patients from Groups 1 and 3 and in 70.6% of patients from Group 2 their genital prolapse was assessed as having grade I according to Baden-Walker, and in 29.4% of patients from Group 2, as grade II. However, there were many cases of prolapse progression of the contralateral vaginal wall: in 72 (44%) of patients in Group 1 and in 4 (23,5%) in Group 2, that in some cases (18,4%) necessitated the surgery to be repeated.Conclusion: The use of prolene mesh for extraperitoneal strengthening of the pelvic fundus in the elderly is an effective way of treatment. With strict adherence to proper surgical technique it is associated with a minimal number of complications that are mainly easily eliminated.