Outcome of Burch retropubic urethropexy and the effect of concomitant abdominal hysterectomy: a prospective long-term follow-up study.

A prospective follow-up study was performed to evaluate the effect of a concomitant abdominal hysterectomy with Burch colposuspension. Sixty-five women underwent Burch colposuspension (the Burch group) and 78 women colposuspension with concomitant abdominal hysterectomy (the hysterectomy group) during a 1-year period in Turku University Hospital. Subjective outcome was assessed with three questionnaires: at 6 weeks, 1 year, and a mean of 4.9 years after the operation. Complications related to the operation occurred in 19 patients (29.2%) in the Burch group and in 36 (46.2%) in the hysterectomy group (P = 0.038). No statistically significant difference in the frequency of any subgroup of complications was found. Instead, complications cumulated to fewer patients in the Burch group. During postoperative care in the hospital intermittent catheterization to treat transient urinary retention was needed more frequently in the Burch group than in the hysterectomy group (10.8% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.046). No significant difference was found in subjective short- and long-term outcome. In the long-term follow-up 79% were subjectively cured or improved, 77% in the Burch group and 81% in the hysterectomy group.

Vaginal axis after abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy: a preliminary study with perineal ultrasonography using contrast medium.

Fifteen consecutive women (mean age 44.5 years) without pelvic relaxation underwent total abdominal (5), vaginal (5) and laparoscopic (5) hysterectomy for benign disease. The vaginal axes of the patients were examined prior to and on average 7 weeks (range 3-10) after the operation with perineal ultrasonography enhanced with an ultrasound contrast medium (SHU454/Echovist-300). Transabdominal and vaginal hysterectomies were performed in the classic manner, i.e. the round as well as cardinal and sacrouterine ligaments were attached to the vaginal vault, followed by peritonealization. In laparoscopic hysterectomy the round, broad and outer parts of the uterosacral and the upper parts of the cardinal ligaments were desiccated by bipolar electrocoagulation and cut with laparoscopic scissors. The vagina was closed by interrupted sutures with no specific fixation of the round, cardinal or uterosacral ligaments. Preoperative ultrasound findings showed that in all women the vagina was an angulated organ. The mean preoperative angle between the upper and lower vaginal portions was 108 degrees, in both the supine and the standing positions. Postoperatively this angulated shape remained almost unchanged after vaginal (mean angle 117 degrees ) and laparoscopic hysterectomy (mean angle 130 degrees ), whereas after transabdominal hysterectomy the vaginal axis rotated anteriorly and became an almost straight tube (mean angle 158 degrees). We conclude that the vaginal axis, at least at an early stage after vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy remained in almost the same position as preoperatively, in contrast to that after abdominal hysterectomy. A tight attachment of the round ligaments to the vaginal vault in the abdominal approach could explain the outcome of transabdominal hysterectomy, and should be called into question.