Comparison of colpocleisis and long-term pessary therapy in the management of severe pelvic organ prolapse - A retrospective observational study

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness, complications, and treatment preference parameters of long-term pessary therapy versus vaginal obliteration (colpocleisis) in elderly, sexually inactive female patients with severe POP. Design Single-center, retrospective observational study. Participants/Materials In our study we included elderly, sexually inactive women treated for advanced POP between January 2015 and November 2023. Long-term pessary therapy was applied in 30 cases, while 46 patients underwent vaginal obliteration. The mean follow-up duration was 41.9 ± 31.9 vs. 61.9 ± 40.1 months, respectively. Setting The study was performed at the Department of Urology of our University (n = 76). Methods Data collection was carried out based on clinical patient documentation and telephone interviews. We used a standardized, non-validated questionnaire specifically designed for this study covering four domains: patient characteristics; POP-related symptoms; treatment effectiveness and complications; socioeconomic and health-related parameters, treatment preferences. Pre- and post-treatment parameters and intergroup differences were statistically analyzed. Results The mean age of the patients was 74 ± 5.6 years, and the mean BMI was 25.6 ± 4.4. Following both pessary therapy and surgery, high rates of symptom resolution were observed regarding vaginal foreign body sensation, discomfort and/or palpable bulge (93.5% vs. 95.5%) and obstructive voiding difficulty (100% vs. 96.4%). The rate of patient satisfaction was high in both groups (90% vs. 97.8%, p = 0.15); however, symptom improvement was significantly greater following vaginal obliteration (VAS: 8.9 ± 1.1 vs. 7.7 ± 1.7, p < 0.001). Pessary therapy was discontinued in 23.3% of cases, and 20% later required surgical POP intervention. No reoperations due to recurrence were required following obliterative surgery. Adverse events occurred in 26.6% of pessary patients and complications in 17.3% of surgically treated patients. The most frequent reason for choosing pessary therapy was fear of surgery (76.6%), while the most common reason for choosing surgery was refusal of pessary therapy (58.5%). Limitations The retrospective design and relatively small sample size limit the generalizability of the findings. Conclusions In elderly, sexually inactive women requiring treatment for advanced POP, both vaginal obliteration and long-term pessary therapy provide excellent therapeutic alternatives. The two modalities demonstrate comparable outcomes, high effectiveness, and an acceptable rate of non-severe complications, making both options suitable for appropriately selected patients.