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DOI: 10.1111/tog.

12220 2016;18:17–23
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Review
http://onlinetog.org

Management of uterine prolapse: is


hysterectomy necessary?
a b b,
Helen Jefferis MRCOG, Simon Robert Jackson MD FRCOG, Natalia Price MD MRCOG *
a
Subspeciality Trainee in Urogynaecology, Department of Urogynaecology, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3
9DU, UK
b
Consultant Urogynaecologist, Department of Urogynaecology, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
*Correspondence: Natalia Price. Email: Natalia.Price@ouh.nhs.uk

Accepted on 1 June 2015

Key content  Fertility preservation remains the one absolute indication for
 Management of uterine prolapse is currently heavily influenced by hysteropexy. Other potential advantages include stronger apical
patient and surgeon preferences. support and reduced vaginal surgery.
 The traditional approach to uterine prolapse is vaginal  Colpocleisis remains a valid option for a small cohort of patients.
hysterectomy. However, this does not address the underlying
Learning objectives
deficiency in connective tissue pelvic floor support, and prolapse  Options for the management of uterine prolapse.
recurrence is common.
 How to help patients decide on a management plan.
 Uterine preservation surgery is increasing in popularity, both with
surgeons and patients; there is currently little evidence to show Keywords: colpocleisis / hysteropexy / pelvic organ prolapse /
superior outcome to hysterectomy. uterine preservation surgery / vaginal hysterectomy

Please cite this paper as: Jefferis H, Jackson SR, Price N. Management of uterine prolapse: is hysterectomy necessary? The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2016;18:
17–23. DOI: 10.1111/tog.12220

significantly associated with regression of prolapse, leading


Introduction
the authors to suggest that the damage obesity causes to the
When a woman presents with pelvic organ prolapse, the pelvic floor may be irreversible.
management options are doing nothing, offering Women are often given advice regarding pelvic floor
conservative treatment such as physiotherapy and vaginal muscle training and may receive targeted physiotherapy. A
pessaries, or surgery. Many women will ask for their 2014 multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT)2
gynaecologist’s opinion as to the best course of action. This comparing individualised pelvic floor muscle training with
will depend on symptomatology, impact on quality of life, no intervention found a statistically significant improvement
desire for sexual function and medical comorbidities, among in subjective assessment of prolapse symptoms in the
other factors. It is important that gynaecologists are aware of intervention group. No significant improvement in
all available treatment modalities and can counsel objective assessment of anatomy, as assessed by the pelvic
women about the potential benefits and risks. Some organ prolapse quantification system (POP-Q),
patients will simply require reassurance that there is no was reported.
sinister pathology. Women have used mechanical devices to reduce pelvic
organ prolapse since ancient times, and the use of vaginal
pessaries remains a simple and satisfactory treatment. One
Conservative management
study of 100 women using this method3 showed a 92%
Gynaecologists will often recommend lifestyle measures to satisfaction rate in terms of prolapse symptoms and a 50%
patients presenting with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse. improvement in urinary symptoms.
Of particular interest is the correlation between increasing Studies have shown that older women and those with
body mass index and prevalence of prolapse. Weight loss is comorbidities are most likely to persist with the use of
therefore often recommended to patients as part of a vaginal pessaries. Women more likely to pursue surgery are
conservative approach to managing prolapse symptoms. younger, more likely to be sexually active and more likely to
However, one large study1 showed that weight loss was not have more advanced prolapse.4 Factors predicting failure of

ª 2016 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 17


Management of uterine prolapse

pessary treatment are short vaginal length, deficient perineal organs. The request frequently arises after women have
body and a wider vaginal introitus. conducted an internet literature search and become aware of
The side effects associated with vaginal pessary use are alternatives to hysterectomy.
usually minor and include vaginal discharge, odour and
vaginal erosions. More serious complications such as fistulae
The history of uterine preserving prolapse
are predominately seen in neglected or forgotten pessaries.
surgery
Uterine preservation surgery can be considered when it is
The current debate
appropriate to offer a surgical remedy for uterine prolapse.
Vaginal hysterectomy has long been the standard approach The most obvious indication is fertility preservation in
for the management of uterine prolapse, with the first women who have not yet completed childbearing. However,
successful planned case being credited to Langenback in 1813. this is a small group of patients. Most women requiring
It remains a safe and readily available surgical solution to surgery for prolapse have no desire for further children;
uterine prolapse. Various techniques are described for indeed the majority are postmenopausal.
reducing the risk of subsequent vaginal prolapse. The In the authors’ experience other more prevalent
McCall culdoplasty (which involves approximating the indications for uterine preservation include patient request
uterosacral ligaments so as to obliterate the peritoneum of and superior outcome. The latter is a contentious statement
the posterior cul-de-sac as high as possible) is considered as clinical data remains sparse and will be discussed in this
superior to a vaginal Moschowitz procedure, or closure of the article. However, when there is loss of apical support,
peritoneum of the cul-de-sac in preventing enterocoele traditional vaginal hysterectomy will not correct the defect.
formation.5 Suturing the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments This is most readily apparent when women present with
to the vaginal cuff may also reduce subsequent procidentia; it is self-evident that hysterectomy will not treat
vault prolapse.6 vaginal eversion. The Royal College of Obstetricians
While vaginal hysterectomy has served patients and and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Green-top Guideline,
gynaecologists well for many years, its continued routine ‘Management of Post Hysterectomy Vaginal Vault
use has been subject to debate. Many gynaecologists argue Prolapse’,12 recommends sacrospinous fixation if the
that the uterus itself is healthy and the underlying vaginal vault is at the introitus at the end of a vaginal
pathophysiology is a connective tissue deficiency,7 whether hysterectomy procedure.
congenital or acquired through childbirth or ageing, and that The concept of uterine preservation surgery for pelvic
uterine prolapse is merely a symptom, not the disease. organ prolapse is not new, but it has attracted a resurgence in
Vaginal hysterectomy fails to address this underlying interest over recent years. In 1888 Archibald Donald first
deficiency in connective tissue, with relatively high described the Manchester repair as an alternative to vaginal
recurrence rates of 10–40% described in the literature.8,9 hysterectomy for patients with uterine prolapse, although this
Recurrence can manifest with vaginal vault eversion, or more may have been a more useful technique for patients with an
commonly recurrent enterocoele or cystocoele. We know that elongated cervix rather than true uterine descent. In 1930
cystocoele commonly arises because of loss of apical (type 1) Victor Bonney highlighted the passive role of the uterus in
vaginal support, and until apical support is established, a uterovaginal prolapse, which underpins the theory behind
cystocoele will recur after surgery. Furthermore, uterine preservation surgery. Subsequent surgeons have
hysterectomy removes a healthy organ that may play a role developed techniques for uterine preservation using a
in a woman’s individual and sexual identity. vaginal, abdominal or laparoscopic approach.
On the other hand, vaginal hysterectomy has been part of
core gynaecology training for decades; more recently part of Vaginal approach
the popular vaginal surgery advanced training skills module In 1966 Williams13 described a technique for transvaginal
(ATSM). Most gynaecologists are therefore well trained and uterosacral-cervical ligament plication. He reported on the
comfortable doing the procedure with good outcomes. In outcomes of 20 women undergoing this procedure, with
addition, there is evidence that the procedure is associated three ‘failures’ encountered within a 6-month follow-up
with high patient satisfaction rates, which are not period. His method involved a posterior colpotomy with
significantly different from uterine preservation.10 Some division of the uterosacral ligaments from the cervix,
uterine preservation procedures have also been associated plication across the midline and reinsertion into the cervix.
with high rates of recurrent anterior wall prolapse.11 The cardinal ligaments are then plicated anteriorly across
Women are increasingly requesting uterine conservation. the midline.
This may be because of the wish to preserve fertility, or the The concept of sacrospinous hysteropexy was first
belief that female identity is bound up in the female genital described by Richardson14 in 1989. The cervix or

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Jefferis et al.

uterosacral ligament is transfixed to the sacrospinous sacrocolpopexy. Sacrohysteropexy was associated with a
ligament using either permanent or delayed absorbable shorter operative time and hospital stay and a reduction in
sutures. In 2001 Maher15 reported a small comparison intraoperative blood loss. It is difficult to interpret data
study between sacrospinous hysteropexy and vaginal reporting comparisons between abdominal sacrohysteropexy
hysterectomy with sacrospinous vault fixation, with no and hysterectomy because of variations in surgical techniques
differences in objective or subjective outcomes at follow-up. and differences in mesh type, size, shape and
Other studies have suggested that sacrospinous hysteropexy attachment points.
has a shorter operative time and less blood loss than vaginal
hysterectomy.16 One study also reported fewer postoperative Laparoscopic approach
incidences of overactive bladder symptoms in the While initial experience with abdominal hysteropexy was
sacrospinous hysteropexy group.17 Dietz et al.11 described obtained via laparotomy, open abdominal surgery has now,
an increased risk of anterior compartment prolapse following in many units, been largely replaced with laparoscopic
sacrospinous hysteropexy, with an incidence of up to 40%. techniques. The laparoscope confers better vision than
Sacrospinous hysteropexy, is the most studied vaginal laparotomy, allowing a magnified, high definition view.
technique for uterine preservation prolapse surgery; Furthermore, the long instruments allow better pelvic access,
however, in general, the studies assessing it are of poor particularly behind the uterus, than conferred by laparotomy.
quality, with small numbers, short follow-up periods,18 a lack General advantages of laparoscopic compared with open
of controls and limited functional outcome data. surgery are reduced hospital stay, reduced need for analgesia,
The technique of posterior vaginal slingplasty was first quicker recovery and minimal blood loss. There is a
described in 2001,19 using a mesh kit to create ‘neo- suggestion that adhesion formation is also reduced.
uterosacral ligaments’. One prospective comparison study The main disadvantage of laparoscopic surgery is the
quoted a 91.4% patient satisfaction rate post-surgery,20 but initial increase in operating time while the surgeon learns the
cumulative data suggest a high incidence of mesh laparoscopic techniques. Focused training and use of skills
complications with up to a 21% mesh erosion rate.21 laboratories and laparoscopic simulators can help to address
this issue. As a new generation of surgeons develop, trained
Abdominal approach from the outset in laparoscopic techniques, such concerns
Several methods for open abdominal hysteropexy have been will become obsolete. In fact, many skilled laparoscopic
described, including transfixing the uterus to the anterior surgeons find that if they are in a situation where open
abdominal wall and ventral fixation to the pectineal surgery is required, the operating times are slower and
ligaments. Most techniques use the sacral promontory as visualisation of the anatomy is poorer.
the fixation point, giving rise to the term Several laparoscopic uterine suspension procedures have
‘abdominal sacrohysteropexy’. been described using different methods. Laparoscopic
Abdominal suture sacrohysteropexy was described as early ventrosuspension involves suturing the round ligaments to
as 1957,22 with the uterine fundus being fixed to the sacral the rectus sheath. However, the round ligament is not
promontory with silk sutures. More recent techniques have particularly robust, and perhaps, as expected, it has been
utilised a variety of synthetic meshes to aid fixation. In 1993, shown to have poor outcomes, with one case series of nine
Addison23 first described a technique for resuspending the women reporting recurrent prolapse in all but one patient
uterus to the sacrum using MersileneTM (Ethicon US, LLC, within 6 months.27 Chen et al.28 used mesh to suspend the
USA) polyester fibre mesh. Leron and Stanton24 followed-up uterus by attachment to the anterior abdominal wall. While
13 women undergoing abdominal sacrohysteropexy and they reported good outcomes, all patients experienced
found it to be a safe and effective surgery for the significant pain or dragging sensations over the mesh
management of uterine prolapse. Farkas et al.25 described a attachment site.
technique for uterine suspension using a ‘wrap-around’ insert Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament plication was first
of Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, USA) described by Wu et al.29 in 1997, with good results in a
for women with prolapse secondary to bladder exstrophy. small case series. Maher et al.30 modified this technique to
Roovers et al.10 reported on a comparison between include reattachment of the uterosacral ligaments to the
sacrohysteropexy and vaginal hysterectomy with vault cervix and closure of the pouch of Douglas, with an objective
fixation; recurrence was higher in the abdominal surgery success rate of 79% in 43 women at 12 months.
group (22%) than in the vaginal hysterectomy group (2.5%). Recent techniques have focused on use of the sacral
Constantini et al.26, however, found no subjective or promontory as a point of fixation. Krause et al.31 followed-
objective difference in functional outcomes when up 81 women undergoing laparoscopic sacral suture
comparing a group of patients undergoing hysteropexy, placing sutures through the posterior aspect of
sacrohysteropexy with those undergoing hysterectomy with the cervix and transfixing to the sacral promontory via the

ª 2016 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 19


Management of uterine prolapse

right uterosacral ligament. Objective correction of prolapse


was seen in 94% of patients at a mean of 20.3 months Box 1. Aims of hysteropexy
follow-up.
 To restore and reinforce uterine support by suspending the uterus
Cutner et al.32 developed the technique of laparoscopic from the sacral promontory using type 1 polypropylene mesh. Two
uterine sling suspension. The peritoneum is opened over the strong attachment points are used: the cervix and the anterior
sacral promontory and the rectum is reflected laterally. longitudinal ligament overlying the sacral promontory.
A tunnel is created by blunt dissection underneath the  To restore vaginal length without compromising calibre.
peritoneum from the sacral promontory to the insertion of
By restoring apical support a reduction in anterior prolapse is seen,
the uterosacral ligament complex into the cervix on either consistent with the importance of restoring level 1 support in
side. MersileneTM tape on a needle is placed through the cystocoele repair. A reduction in enterocoele is also seen.
cervix, through the uterosacral ligaments and through the
peritoneal tunnels on each side, before being bilaterally
tacked to the sacral promontory to suspend the uterus. This
technique aims for the sling to resemble newly created fixation. A peritoneal relaxing incision is then used, medial to
uterosacral ligaments. the right ureter, to retract it from the surgical site; this is then
The theoretical advantage is that this type of repair, by extended into the pelvis, lateral to the rectum. The right
augmenting weak connective tissue with prosthetic material, uterosacral ligament is identified and the peritoneum is
provides stronger apical support resulting in lower opened over this, where the uterosacral ligaments insert into
recurrence rates. It allows the patient to retain their fertility the cervix. A flap of peritoneum is mobilised to facilitate
and, by avoiding vaginal surgery, there is a lower potential for reperitonealisation. The vesico-uterine peritoneum is incised
dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction. However, evidence is to reflect the bladder away and bilateral avascular windows
lacking to support this technique as it has not been evaluated are created in the broad ligament, lateral to the uterine
in clinical trials. arteries, at the level of the internal os.
A bifurcated polypropylene type 1 macroporous non-
absorbable mesh (ProLiteTM; Atrium Medical Corporation,
Authors’ technique; the Oxford
USA) is brought through the broad ligament windows. This
hysteropexy
is transfixed to the anterior cervix using non-dissolvable,
The laparoscopic polypropylene cervical encirclage non-absorbable polyester 2-0 sutures (Ethibond; Ethicon
hysteropexy was modified in Oxford from previously US, LLC, USA). The mesh is attached to the sacral
described open abdominal surgery techniques. The authors’ promontory under moderate tension using two to three
experience with hysteropexy has shown that mesh, when 5 mm helical fasteners (Pro-TackTM; Covidien, CT, USA). The
attached to the posterior aspect of the cervix, or to the mesh is then completely reperitonealised using Monocryl
cervical stump following hysterectomy, has a high avulsion (Ethicon US, LLC, USA) sutures.
rate. Therefore, a method of complete cervical encirclage was
developed using a bifurcated polypropylene mesh.33 The
Outcomes after laparoscopic hysteropexy
technique has evolved; initially the abdominal polypropylene
was not completely peritonealised; previous reports from Outcome data post-laparoscopic hysteropexy is sparse. We
open abdominal surgery suggested this was unnecessary. performed a prospective observational study34 and reported
However, it subsequently became apparent that exposed outcomes following laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy in 140
intraperitoneal polypropylene causes marked bowel women. Follow-up time varied between 1 and 4 years, with
adhesions, thus complete peritonealisation was adopted. 89% of women reporting that their prolapse was ‘very much’
Furthermore, a 3 cm width strip of polypropylene was or ‘much’ better. There was significant improvement
initially used, but this resulted in several instances of (P<0.001) in all parameters of ICIQ-VS (International
recurrent cervical descent because of mesh stretching. Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Vaginal
Subsequently, a 5 cm wide strip of polypropylene was used. Symptoms) and POP-Q scores post-surgery. Four percent of
Other units within the UK have now adopted this Oxford women experienced further apical prolapse, of which half
hysteropexy technique; it is not exclusive to Oxford. The underwent further surgical intervention. This compares
aims of this technique are outlined in Box 1. favourably with the risk of vault prolapse following vaginal
A four-port laparoscopic technique is used with a 10 mm hysterectomy.35 The rate of serious complications was 4%, and
umbilical, two 5 mm lateral and a 12 mm suprapubic port comprised bowel adhesions (prior to the modified
inserted. After identifying the sacral promontory, the reperitonealisation technique), broad ligament vascular
peritoneum is incised with bipolar graspers and monopolar injury and one pulmonary embolus. When asked, 92% of
scissors to identify a safe window of periosteum for mesh women said they would recommend the operation to a friend.

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Jefferis et al.

As this is still a relatively new technique, more outcome Sacrocolpopexy mesh extrusion rates of 2–11% have
data over a longer time frame are needed to enable been reported.39,40
comparison with more traditional approaches. The The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
outcomes of the Vault or Uterine prolapse surgery Agency (MHRA) and the RCOG12 have both issued
Evaluation (VUE) study (a randomised, multicentre trial guidance for urogynaecologists surrounding the use of
comparing uterine preservation surgery with vaginal mesh in prolapse and incontinence surgery.41
hysterectomy) are awaited and are likely to produce the In the authors’ experience, no cases of vaginal mesh
best available evidence on this debate. However, the fact that extrusion were seen in a series of 700 women undergoing
all surgical hysteropexy techniques (vaginal, abdominal and Oxford hysteropexy, even after up to 8 years of follow-up.42
laparoscopic) are incorporated into one uterine preservation One explanation would be the fact that the polypropylene
arm may pose a challenge for the power of the study and the mesh does not approximate to the vaginal wall and lies at
generalisability of the results. the level of the internal os. Following initial concerns
regarding adhesions of the bowel to the mesh, the technique
has been modified to completely reperitonealise the mesh.
Hysterectomy or uterine preservation?
Subsequent to this modification, no further bowel adhesions
Vaginal hysterectomy eliminates the possibility of uterine or or other mesh complications have been reported.
cervical pathology, and there are incidences of unexpected
pathology being detected at pathological examination of the
Fertility following uterine preservation
removed uterus.36 Careful patient selection is needed if
surgery
uterine preservation is planned – any abnormal or
postmenopausal bleeding would certainly warrant further Theoretically one advantage of hysteropexy is retention of
investigation in advance of hysteropexy. Contraindications to reproductive potential. It may therefore be the preferred
uterine preservation include the presence of cervical approach for younger patients who have not completed
dysplasia, abnormal uterine bleeding and possibly large their families. However, patients must be counselled that
fibroids or uterine anomalies. In these cases hysterectomy data for pregnancy outcomes following the procedure are
would be more appropriate. scarce and the impact of the pregnancy on the surgery, and
The main contraindication to hysterectomy is the desire to indeed the effect of the surgery on the pregnancy, are
retain fertility, although the majority of women being treated unknown. In some techniques, such as the Oxford
for prolapse will be postmenopausal so this factor may not be hysteropexy, the mesh encircles the cervix and vaginal
relevant. Another situation where uterine preservation is birth is therefore not possible; in effect the mesh acts as a
recommended is in the presence of congenital anomalies such cervical suture. There is also concern that uterine blood flow
as bladder exstrophy.37 may be compromised as the mesh potentially constricts the
uterine arteries, although it is likely that a rich collateral
supply is formed.
Current mesh debate
In the authors’ experience, three patients have
The use of type 1 mesh is well established in pelvic subsequently conceived following an Oxford hysteropexy:
reconstruction surgery and has common usage in one patient has been followed through to delivery in
sacrocolpopexy and mid-urethral slings. However, the conjunction with her obstetrician. Uterine artery Doppler
medical community has become aware of complications, studies at 23 weeks of gestation showed no compromise to
such as with hip and breast implants, which have attracted a blood flow. Serial growth scans showed a normally grown
high media profile – in many cases associated with litigation, fetus and the patient underwent elective caesarean delivery at
particularly in the USA and Scotland. The use of mesh for 39 weeks of gestation, delivering a healthy infant of normal
prolapse and incontinence in gynaecology is now under birthweight. The patient has since required surgical
intense scrutiny. This has been secondary to a realisation that correction of anterior vaginal wall prolapse, although it is
vaginal mesh extrusion rates are higher than not clear whether this is related to her pregnancy or whether
previously thought. she would have had recurrence of prolapse anyway. The other
Certainly the use of transvaginal mesh for vaginal prolapse two patients were in early pregnancy at the time of writing
appears to have a relatively high complication rate, with mesh and will be reported on in the near future.
erosion reported in up to 10% of cases.38 This is secondary to
mesh lying adjacent to the vaginal wall that has been
Obliterative procedures
weakened by a surgical incision and subsequent scarring.
With an abdominal approach, the mesh extrusion rate is Obliterative, rather than reconstructive, surgery aims to close
considerably less, as the vaginal incision is avoided. off a portion of the vaginal canal, thereby reducing the

ª 2016 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 21


Management of uterine prolapse

prolapsing viscera back into the pelvis. Colpocleisis (from the Supporting Information
Greek kolpos meaning folds, and cleisis meaning closure) was
first reported by Gerardin in 1823. The technique in use Single Best Answer questions are available for this article at
today is a modification of that described by Lefort in 1877. https://stratog.rcog.org.uk/tutorial/tog-online-sba-resource
Epithelium is removed from the anterior and posterior
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ª 2016 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 23

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