Is Advanced Age a Restriction in Urogynecological Operations?

Abstract

Recent studies show an increase in pelvic floor disorders with the increasing advanced-age population. Comorbid chronic diseases in the advanced-age population increase the incidence of mortality and morbidity in surgical options, which are effective treatment methods for pelvic floor disorders. We analyzed the feasibility, reliability and outcomes of urogynaecology surgeries performed due to pelvic floor disorders in our study. This retrospective study analysed all females who had undergone any surgical operation for pelvic floor disorders at Atatürk University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between January 2010 and December 2019. Only females over 65 years of age were included in the study. The data on the patients’ age, gravida, parity, chronic diseases and degree of pelvic organ prolapse were obtained from medical records. Prolapse was assessed using the POP-Q grading system. The type of surgical procedures, operative parameters, and intraoperative or postoperative complications were determined from the records. Of 105 patients included in the study, the mean age was calculated as 70.32±4.59 years (range, 65–82 years), and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as 27.4±4.44 kg. Intraoperative blood loss exceeding 500 ml was observed only in four of 105 patients. No adjacent organ injury was observed in any of the patients during the operation. Only one case of hematoma at the sixth postoperative hour was observed, while three patients (2.86%) had recurrence in the postoperative follow-up period. We advocate that age should not be a restriction for the surgical treatment of pelvic floor disorders if patients are appropriately selected and operated on by a team of experts.

Keywords

• Urogynaecology
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Geriatrics
• Advanced age
• Complication

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