Functional cine magnetic resonance imaging in women after abdominal sacrocolpopexy

Objective: To evaluate whether functional cine magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) is a reliable method for verifying postoperative anatomy and function in women after abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Methods: We did postoperative functional cine MRI in 25 women who had sacro colpopexies. Visibility of grafts and vaginal and sacral fixation points we re assessed and correlated with intraoperative results. Ranges of vaginal m ovement were calculated and compared with results of postoperative gynecolo gic examinations. Results: Functional cine MRI achieved full view of vaginas in all cases. Th e mean vaginal axis was 142 degrees. Grafts were entirely visible in 13 wom en, partly visible in nine, and not visible in three. Functional cine MRI d efined exactly the sacral fixation points in 22 women. Compared with intrao perative results, functional cine MRI showed a higher level of fixation in nine of 11 women. Functional cine MRI defined exact vaginal fixations point in 15 of 25 women. According to the pubococcygeal reference line, the post operative range of movement of the vaginal apex was 1.8 cm. Recurrent vagin al vault prolapses in three women were detected equally by functional cine MRIs and gynecologic examinations. In those cases, no parts of patches were seen on the images. Conclusion: Functional cine MRI provided reliable abdominal sacrocolpopexy follow-up data. It might help with individual surgical planning and augment understanding of benefits and flaws of various surgical approaches to repa ir of vaginal vault prolapse. (Obstet Gynecol 2001;47:81-5. (C) 2001 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.)