[Prolapse after a hysterectomy. A study of 70 cases]

The authors report on 70 cases of prolapse following hysterectomy (52 cases after subtotal hysterectomy, 13 after total abdominal hysterectomy, and 5 after vaginal hysterectomy). These cases of prolapse following hysterectomy represent 11,7 p. cent of all surgery performed to correct prolapse over the same period (70/599). It is desirable to repair the vagina as anatomically as possible, preserve normal function (70% of patients desire to remain sexually active), and correct if necessary urinary incontinence also present in 47 p. cent of patients in our series. Once the decision to operate has been made, we believe the best procedure is a pubosacral suspension (double hemi-hammock) using a Mersilence strap, which treats the associated stress incontinence and preserves sexual function.