Feasibility of Oophorectomy at the Time of Vaginal Hysterectomy in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of oophorectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse and to define prognostic factors and perioperative morbidity associated with the procedure. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: An academic medical center. PATIENTS: All women who underwent total vaginal hysterectomy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse over 5 years were considered for inclusion in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Total vaginal hysterectomy and concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repair with or without oophorectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 289 women underwent total vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic organ prolapse repair. Vaginal oophorectomy was attempted in 179 patients (61.9%). The procedure was successful in 150 patients (83.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 77.6%-88.9%). High ovarian location was the most commonly cited reason for the inability to perform a planned unilateral/bilateral oophorectomy (n = 24, 82.7%). Attempting oophorectomy vaginally was associated with an increased duration of surgery by 7.3 minutes (p = .03), an increased change in hemoglobin by 0.2 g/dL (p = .02), and a higher rate of readmission (7.3% vs 1.8%, p = .04). Multiple logistic regression showed that increasing age (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.20; p <.001) and body mass index (odds ratio = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27; p<.001) were associated with an increased risk of vaginal oophorectomy failure. On univariate analysis, race (p = .64), parity (p = .39), uterine weight (p = .91), need for uterine morcellation (p=.21), presence of endometriosis (p=.66), prior cesarean section (p=.63), prior laparoscopy (p=.37), and prior open abdominal/pelvic surgery (p = .28) did not impact the likelihood of successfully performing oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: In patients with pelvic organ prolapse, a planned oophorectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy can be successfully performed in the majority of cases. Greater age and body mass index are associated with an increased likelihood of failure.