Native-tissue repair of isolated primary rectocele compared with nonabsorbable mesh: patient-reported outcomes

We evaluated patient-reported outcomes and complications after treatment of isolated primary rectocele in routine health-care settings using native-tissue repair or nonabsorbable mesh.

We used prospective data from the Swedish National Register for Gynaecological Surgery and included 3988 women with a primary operation for rectocele between 2006 and 2014: 3908 women had native-tissue repair, 80 were operated with nonabsorbable mesh. No concurrent operations were performed. Pre- and perioperative data were collected from doctors and patients. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated 2 and 12 months after the operation. Only validated questionnaires were used.

One year after native-tissue repair, 77.8 % (76.4–79.6) felt they were cured, which was defined as never or hardly ever feeling genital protrusion; 74.0 % (72.2–75.7) were very satisfied or satisfied, and 84 % (82.8–85.9) reported improvement of symptoms. After mesh repair, 89.8 % (77.8–96.6) felt cured, 69.2 % (54.9–81.3) were very satisfied or satisfied, and 86.0 % (72.1–94.7) felt improvement. No significant differences were found between groups. Organ damage was found in 16 (0.4 %) patients in the native-tissue repair group compared with one (1.3 %) patient in the mesh group [odds ratio (OR) 3.08; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.07–20.30]. The rate of de novo dyspareunia after native-tissue repair was 33.1 % (30.4–35.8), comparable with that after mesh repair. The reoperation rate was 1.1 % (0.8–1.5) in both groups.

Most patients were cured and satisfied after native-tissue repair of the posterior vaginal wall, and the patient-reported outcomes were comparable with results after mesh repair. The risk of serious complications and reoperation were comparable between groups.