Posterior repair quantification (PR-Q) using key anatomical indicators (KAI): preliminary report

Posterior vaginal compartment repairs (PR) have traditionally involved a subjective approach. We aim to quantify such repairs using key anatomical indicators (KAI).

At 50 consecutive PRs: perineal gap (PG); posterior vaginal vault descent (PVVD); mid-vaginal laxity (MVL—vault undisplaced/displaced); and recto-vaginal fascial laxity (RVFL) were measured. The total posterior vaginal length (TPVL) and from POP-Q, TVL, GH, Ap, Bp C, D were also measured. Surgical details deemed appropriate to each repair were recorded.

A mean preoperative PG of 2.5 cm was reduced to 0.0 cm postoperatively by excision (100 % cases) with an average increase of 21.6 % in total vaginal length over that if the repair was commenced at the hymen. There was an average reduction of 25.0 % in the genital hiatus (GH). Mean PVVD was 5.3 cm overall; 6.4 cm for 31 out of 50 (62 %) undergoing sacrospinous colpopexy; 3.5 cm for 19 out of 50 (38 %) with no ligamentous vault fixation. An approximate “cut-off” for PVVD of 5 cm may assist with the differentiation of cases where vault fixation may be desirable. Up to 52 % (1.4/2.7 cm) of preoperative MVL displacement was due to vaginal vault descent. The MVL undisplaced (mean 1.3 cm) may better guide vaginal mucosal trimming. RVFL averaged just 0.8 cm with 22 out of 50 (44 %) RVFL being 0.5 cm or less, and not requiring any RVF plicatory sutures.

It is possible to use KAI to assist the planning and execution of posterior vaginal compartment surgery. The PG, PVVD, MVL, and RVFL can indicate surgical measures in the perineum, vaginal vault, vaginal mucosa, and recto-vaginal space respectively.