Incidence of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse 10 years following primary surgical management: a retrospective cohort study

We conducted this study to estimate the rate of, and identify risk factors for, recurrent pelvic organ prolapse (POP) following primary surgical repair. The study consisted of a retrospective cohort study of 142 women who underwent primary surgical management of POP in 1993 and were followed up to 10 years. Prolapse severity was graded using an established classification system of clinical descriptors. Hazard ratios (HR) for recurrent POP were determined using Cox regression. 36 recurrent cases were identified (recurrence rate: 3.7 per 100 woman-years). A cystocele was the most frequent element of primary (87%) and recurrent (72%) prolapse. No predictors of the likelihood of recurrence were identified, though recurrence was somewhat more common among women with a history of two or fewer vaginal deliveries vs three or more (HR=1.6; 95% confidence interval=0.81-3.3). Recurrent POP following surgical management is common. Our ability to predict recurrence is limited.