Changes in bowel symptoms after different pelvic organ prolapse surgeries among elderly women at the 1‐year follow up

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of bowel symptoms in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to evaluate the changes in bowel symptoms after different POP surgeries, and to identify risk factors for unrelieved bowel symptoms.MethodsThis was an observational prospective cohort study conducted at Peking University First Hospital from 2020 to 2021. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data were collected. Participants underwent POP Quantification examination and completed the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory‐20 questionnaire at baseline and 1 year postoperatively.ResultsThe prevalence of bowel symptoms and bothersome bowel symptoms in women with POP was 46.38% and 24.40%, respectively. Surgical correction of prolapse was associated with significant relief in bowel symptoms (P < 0.05). Colpocleisis may relieve bowel symptoms better than reconstructive surgeries (41% vs. 31%, P = 0.048). However, 35% of women had at least one bowel symptom at the 1‐year follow up. A long perineal body (Pb) and levator ani muscle injury were found to be predictors of unrelieved bowel symptoms in patients undergoing colpocleisis and those undergoing reconstructive surgery, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 2.306, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.112–4.783, P = 0.025 and OR 3.245, 95% CI 1.266–8.317, P = 0.014, respectively), and perineoplasty was a protective factor for women who underwent colpocleisis (OR 0.102, 95% CI 0.025–0.417, P = 0.001)ConclusionWomen with POP have a high prevalence of bowel symptoms. Although bowel symptoms can be relieved after POP surgeries, one‐third of women still experience bowel symptoms. A long Pb and levator ani muscle injury were associated with unrelieved bowel symptoms, while perineoplasty was a protective factor.