[Cystocele and perineal ultrasound : Comparison of reliability and patient satisfaction]

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common medical finding. The use of perineal ultrasound for diagnosis of cystoceles is gaining in importance.

The purpose of this work was to test whether perineal ultrasound can be used to diagnose a cystocele before surgery and for follow-up examination. Furthermore, patient satisfaction during speculum examination and perineal ultrasound was compared.

33 women with cystocele were examined before and after anterior colporrhaphy. Symptoms and satisfaction were documented with questionnaires.

Ultrasound measurements of both examiners were correlated before and after colporrhaphy. Also, the degree of cystocele and ultrasound were correlated during Valsalva after surgery. There was no clear relation between typical symptoms of the cystocele and ultrasound measurements. The patient's comfort is higher during ultrasound than during speculum examination (r = 0.45; p = 0.04. t = 4,418; p < 0.01).

The results of the perineal ultrasound are reproducible before and after colporrhaphy. Patients prefer ultrasound to the speculum examination. A sonographic scale of the cystocele would extend the use of perineal ultrasound.