Laparoscopic lateral suspension with mesh for severe anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse: an observational cohort study for safety and efficacy at 2-year follow-up

This study aimed to investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS) with mesh in the treatment of severe anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP) Chinese women with a 2-year follow-up.

We conducted an observational cohort study. Sixty patients who presented apical (uterovaginal or vault) and anterior prolapse at stage 3 or higher were enrolled. The LLS surgical procedure was performed in accordance with Dubuisson standard operation. The objective and subjective cures as well as the surgery-related complications were evaluated. The POP-related questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of life before operation and at 24 months after operation follow-up.

Objective cure rates at 2 years of follow-up were 88.3% for the anterior compartment, 100% for the apical compartment and 93.3% for the posterior compartment. The subjective cure rate reached to 93.3%. There were statistically significant lower scores of the pelvic floor impact questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) and the pelvic floor distress inventory-short form-20 (PFDI-20) for all women after surgery and they exhibited similar scores of the pelvic organ prolapsed-urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) (P = 0.317). And no significant difference was demonstrated in international consultation on the incontinent questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF) (P = 0.551). No major complications associated with LLS were observed in our study.

We consider that LLS with mesh operation is safe, feasible and effective to correct severe apical and anterior POP after 2-year follow-up.