Incidence and contributing factors of perioperative complications in surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse

Data on the incidence of perioperative complications of surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and their contributing factors are limited, sometimes conflicting, and often mixed with other urogynecologic surgeries.

To estimate the incidence and contributing factors for perioperative complications of POP procedures.

A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2016 and June 2017. POP procedures of different approaches were included irrespective of the surgeon involved, type of surgery (primary or repeat), or concomitant hysterectomy or incontinence repair. Data on perioperative complications were recorded prospectively.

A total of 366 women were included in the current analysis. The average age was 61.0 ± 13.4 years. The surgical procedures performed were vaginal (75.3%), abdominal (11.3%), or combined (13.4%). Approximately 18.2% of these procedures were repeat surgeries. A total of 38 (11.3%) women developed perioperative complications (3.6% severe and 7.7% minor). These included: 25 (7.4%) intraoperative complications (2.4% severe and 5.1% minor) and 17 (5.1%) postoperative complications (2.1% severe and 3.0% minor). In multivariate analysis, abdominal surgery and McCall culdoplasty were significant predictors of intraoperative complications (alone or when combined with other postoperative complications). On the other hand, concomitant hysterectomy and concomitant incontinence repair procedure were associated with higher postoperative complication rates while vaginal surgery had fewer postoperative complications.

There was a low rate of perioperative complications. Abdominal surgery and McCall culdoplasty showed higher intraoperative complications. These data should help in preoperative counseling and target ways to further decrease complication rates.