Colpectomy or Le Fort colpocleisis--a good option in selected elderly patients

The aim of this study was to describe the results of and complications after colpectomy and colpocleisis in selected elderly women with no wish for future coitus. Forty-two patients were operated by either colpectomy or colpocleisis during which special care was taken not to involve the area beneath the urethra. Patients were evaluated before and 3 months after the operation. No severe complications of the operations were observed. No cases of recurrence of the vault prolapse and no cases of de novo incontinence were observed after 3 months. A telephone interview performed after a mean of 46 months showed satisfaction with the operation in 90% of cases. Colpectomy and colpocleisis are important operations in the armamentarium of the urogynecological surgeon. The operations can be used in selected cases.