Short-Term Complications Following Transvaginal Sacrospinous Ligament Rectopexy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) affects over 12% of middle-aged women, characterized by excessive straining, incomplete evacuation, and splinting. Current surgical options such as ventral mesh rectopexy, though effective, involve risks associated with mesh use and abdominal entry. This study evaluates the short-term complications of transvaginal sacrospinous ligament rectopexy.

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary medical center, including patients over 21 years who underwent transvaginal sacrospinous ligament suture rectopexy for ODS from January 2018 to May 2024. Demographic, intraoperative, and 30-day postoperative complication data were collected.

A total of 190 patients with a mean age of 62.3 years underwent transvaginal sacrospinous ligament suture rectopexy. Intraoperative complications were rare, with four rectal injuries: two occurred during posterior dissection, one due to aggressive posterior repair, and another was discovered during exploration for postoperative pain. All rectal injuries were managed successfully. One patient experienced significant intraoperative bleeding, resulting in a hematoma that required evacuation 5 days later. Postoperative urinary retention was the most common complication, affecting 29.8% of patients. This was associated with concurrent procedures, such as mid-urethral sling placement and anterior colporrhaphy. Reoperation within 30 days was necessary for six patients (3.7%): two for urinary retention due to sling-related issues, two for sacrospinous pain necessitating suture removal, and two for vaginal bleeding related to hematoma formation. No cases of surgical site infection, sepsis, or mortality were observed.

Transvaginal sacrospinous ligament suture rectopexy appears to be a safe alternative for ODS treatment, with low short-term complication rates.