Colpocleisis for the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse.

Most females with total vault prolapse undergo reconstructive procedures to restore normal anatomy and function; however, elderly patients who no longer desire sexual intercourse or are medically unstable can be treated effectively with a vaginal closure or colpocleisis. The traditional approach to colpocleisis has been to simply invert the vagina using pursestring sutures after removing the vaginal mucosa. Although simple to perform, after repairing referred treatment failures who used this approach, we began to use a different approach that emphasizes the strength of an anterior repair and extensive posterior repair that then is sutured together. This vaginal closure is reinforced with a strong perineorrhaphy. This multicompartment colpocleisis was performed in 38 elderly females (mean age 77, range 68 to 88) with total vault prolapse. No treatment failures were noted with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 3 to 52 months), and all patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure. No significant complications occurred, and no patient has regretted the loss of sexual function. The aim of this article is to discuss the indications, procedural aspects, and results of performing a multicompartment colpocleisis and partial colpocleisis for total vault prolapse in elderly females.

Studies of the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by oxyhemoglobin using fluorigenic high-performance liquid chromatography.

We noted a rise in acetaldehyde levels in clinical samples of venous whole blood containing ethanol that did not occur in samples from teetotalers. Experiments were performed to define the mechanism involved in acetaldehyde production. The addition of 0.10% ethanol to whole blood produced an immediate increase in acetaldehyde due to acetaldehyde in the stock solution followed by a subsequent increase that became statistically significant by 48 hr. Separation of blood into components documented that the increase in acetaldehyde was associated with the red cell but not plasma fraction. Incubation of isolated hemoglobin with ethanol produced a rise in acetaldehyde levels. Incubation of oxygenated whole blood with ethanol produced a linear increase in acetaldehyde, whereas nitrogen-exposed blood produced no increase. The rise of acetaldehyde in the presence of ethanol was dependent on the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin A0. Addition of inhibitors of catalase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and glycolytic enzymes (aminotriazole, azide, pyrazole, sodium fluoride, sodium citrate, and iodoacetate) did not inhibit the rise of acetaldehyde, but addition of the hemoglobin ligand cyanide abolished the rise in acetaldehyde. Kinetic analysis with oxygenated whole blood plus inhibitors revealed a Km of 2.5 mM and Vmax of 1.42 microM/min. We conclude that oxyhemoglobin contributes to the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde. These findings may explain in part the high levels of acetaldehyde found in red cells compared with plasma. The results also have implications for the optimum storage of blood samples for acetaldehyde analysis.