Die Vaginopexie nach Williams-Richardson: Resümee

PURPOSE: Vaginopexy according to Williams and Richardson is an abdominal operation, whereby external oblique aponeurosis strips are attached to the vaginal vault. We investigated whether use of this method is still justified in view of other commonly used techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2005, a total of 209 WR vaginopexy operations were performed in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, AKH Celle. On follow-up, 165 patients were re-examined at 1 to 11 years after the operation (average interval: 5 years). RESULTS: A good support was achieved in 68.5 % of the patients, while recurrent prolapse developed in 1 patient (0.6 %). 29.1 % of patients had recurrent recto-/enteroceles, but in more than two thirds of cases no symptoms were apparent and the patients were well satisfied with the result. An abdominal wall hernia was found in 13.9 % of patients. CONCLUSION: Vaginopexy according to Williams-Richardson is performed without the use of synthetic material. It offers similar long-term results to those after abdominal sacrocolpopexy or vaginal sacrospinous fixation procedures. Postoperative abdominal wall hernia is an unsolved problem.