Main Article Content
Management of anterior vaginal prolapse in South Africa – results of a national survey
Abstract
Methods. 822 questionnaires were sent by post to all registered gynaecologists and urologists in South Africa.
Results. 47 questionnaires were returned undelivered, and 234 (30.2%) were returned completed. The respondents comprised 180 gynaecologists (23.2%) and 54 urologists (7.0%). The POP-Q staging system was most commonly used (37.6%), but 36.3% did not use any recognised system. Urodynamic investigation was done pre-operatively by 8.6% of the gynaecologists and 20.8% of the urologists (p=0.0121, 95% confidence interval (CI) –24.0 - –0.7%). Anterior colporraphy was done by 85.5% of the respondents and vaginal paravaginal repair by 41.9%, and mesh was used by 55.1%. Urologists made use of mesh more often than gynaecologists (p=0.001, 95% CI –43.3 - –16.9%).
Conclusion. The practice of anterior vaginal prolapse repair was fairly standard except for a few reports of preoperative urodynamics by gynaecologists and high use of synthetic mesh by urologists.