Surgical failures in the management of pelvic floor relaxation

There are a vast number of operations for the correction of symptomatic pelvic floor relaxation, and the pelvic surgeon is faced with a difficult task in selecting the most appropriate procedure(s) for an individual patient. A successful outcome not only depends on the surgeon's skill and operative technique, but also relies heavily on the preoperative recognition and evaluation of factors related to surgical failure. Most importantly, careful attention to all components of the pelvic floor will allow the surgeon to tailor an operation to the individual's particular needs. Awareness of the many pitfalls of pelvic reconstructive surgery should lead to the appropriate preoperative evaluation and patient counseling, thus ensuring the best opportunity for a favorable outcome.