Post-void residual and voiding dysfunction symptoms in women with pelvic organ prolapse before and after vaginal...

The present study evaluates the impact of vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on voiding dysfunction (VD) symptoms and post-void residual (PVR) one year after the intervention.

Epidemiological, longitudinal, prospective study. Thirty-nine gynecology units included women with symptomatic POP grade 2 or higher according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, who would undergo surgery for vaginal prolapse (CIRPOP-IUE study). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected before and after the intervention. At both visits, patients completed the 'Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire' (EPIQ) and 'Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory' (PFDI-20) questionnaire. PVR volume was measured by bladder catheterization immediately after spontaneous urination.

VD symptoms were present in 50% cases before the intervention. PVR was measured in 277 women of which 116 (41.87%) were >50ml and 42/277 (15.2%) were >100ml. Objective and subjective reduction in VD symptoms was observed one year after the intervention. Mean PVR volume was reduced with statistical significance, from a mean (SD) of 66.4 (68.9)ml to 48.3 (51.3)ml. The number of patients who reported difficulty in emptying and sensation of incomplete emptying on the EPIQ and PFDI-20 questionnaires also decreased.

In general, improved voiding functions were observed in the CIRPOP-IUE study through a decrease in specific VD symptoms and a reduction in mean PVR volume.