OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of rectocele repair with longitudinal incision and transverse suture on the vaginal posterior wall.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-six patients with rectocele were enrolled in our study from August 1999 to August 2003. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, and received traditional repair with longitudinal incision and longitudinal suture (control group, n=74) or repair with longitudinal incision and transverse suture on the vaginal posterior wall (study group, n=72). The efficacy and complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn the study group,only one case (1.4%) had no effect, and the total effective rate was 98.7%. The mean course of treatment was (11.0+/- 1.9) days. Only two cases (2.7%) had postoperative complication. In the control group, 8 cases (11.1%) had no effect, and the total effective rate was 88.9%. The mean course of treatment was (17.4+/- 1.6) days. Twenty-nine cases (40.3%) had postoperative complications. There were significant differences in the efficacy and complications between the two groups (both P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe refined rectocele repair with longitudinal incision and transverse suture on the vaginal posterior wall has good efficacy with shorter curative period and less complications.