[Treatment of genital prolapse in very old women]

An until recently mobile woman of 86 years developed problems with independent living because of a genital total prolapse. After treatment by high perineoplasty she was once more able to resume her social activities. In very old women a genital prolapse can lead to significant morbidity due to hygienic problems and increase of social loneliness due to impairment of mobility. Use of a pessary is rarely an acceptable solution because of ulceration of the vaginal wall. Surgery can be modified because preservation of vaginal function is hardly necessary after the age of eighty. Efficient control of complaints can be achieved by Labhardt high perineoplasty or Le Fort partial colpocleisis. Before such types of operation cytology and ultrasonography of the uterus must be performed to exclude a malignancy with reasonable certainty. Both operations can be done under local anaesthesia with very short hospitalization.