Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is an entity produced by the descent of one or more organs from their usual anatomical position: uterus, vagina, urethra, bladder, rectum, sigmoid colon, or small bowel [1]. It is a common condition, and the prevalence increases with age [2] as a consequence of the failure of the supporting structures, accounting for up to 30% of major benign gynecological surgery in our environment [1]. It is a complex and multifactorial pathology in whose care three medical-surgical disciplines are involved, because urinary, genital, and rectal functions may be compromised [3].

Enterocele is a hernia of the small bowel into the vagina [4], because the peritoneal sac containing small bowel or omentum extends into the rectovaginal space that separates the vagina from the rectum [2]. They can be classified according to etiology, with traction enteroceles usually found in association with another anterior, middle, or posterior compartment prolapse [2]. Most cases published in the literature describe enterocele associated with vaginal vault prolapse after hysterectomy [5,6]. Clinically, patients usually report a sensation of pelvic lump or pressure, and sometimes pain or bleeding due to ulceration of the prolapsed organ if it extends beyond the introitus [2]. In addition to genital symptoms, they may also present urinary symptoms such as incontinence, urgency, dysuria, tenesmus, frequency of urination, or digestive symptoms with difficulty in emptying the rectum or obstructive defecation [3].

The management of these patients aims to reduce prolapse in order to improve their quality of life [2]. Pessary as first-line treatment in these cases is unsuccessful, because the pushing of the bowel contents leads to expulsion of it. As for the rest of POP, treatment, both conservative and surgical, would only be indicated in symptomatic cases or those with associated conditions [3,7]. Surgical repair of enterocele represents a challenge for pelvic floor surgeons, and should include removal of the hernia sac with correction of the fascial defect, approximating the pubocervical and rectovaginal fascia to close the hernial port [8]. Urgent intervention is rarely required, but in cases where the enterocele is associated with small bowel obstruction and cannot be reduced, emergency surgical treatment would be indicated to try to avoid intestinal necrosis and systemic infection [2].

We present the case of a patient with an advanced enterocele requiring urgent surgical repair due to the associated risk of intestinal complications.

An 81-year-old patient, hypertensive, obese, anticoagulated with Rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation, with a history of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum in 2018. Her gynecological and obstetric history included 4 euthecological deliveries, none of which were macrosomic, and menopause at the age of 60. Follow-up was done in the pelvic floor unit for pelvic organ prolapse and mixed urinary incontinence. Examination revealed total pelvic organ prolapse, with eversion of the vagina, grade IV enterocele according to the Baden-Walker classification [9], introitus amplitude greater than 2.5 cm and decreased vulvo-anal distance. The cough test was negative even when the prolapse was reduced. The 2D vaginal ultrasound showed a retroverted uterus with linear endometrium and atrophic ovaries, and integrity of both anal sphincters. Initially, conservative management was considered due to the patient's comorbidity, and after reduction of the POP, a number 80 pessary was inserted associated with closure of the perineum with three loose stitches of resorbable material under local anesthesia in the consulting room [10].

At the next examination, pessary expulsion and recurrence of total pelvic organ prolapse was observed, with intestinal loops included in the peritoneal sac, and total eversion of the vagina (Figure 1). Surgical intervention was proposed, but it was rejected due to an unfavorable preoperative risk score – ASA Physical Status Classification System – [11] ASA III, so a pessary was placed again with stitches in the perineum, while a cardiological assessment was requested on the recommendation of the Anesthesia Service.

One month later, the patient came to the emergency department with a sensation of a lump in the genitals and scant bleeding. Examination revealed new pessary expulsion with grade IV [9] middle and posterior compartment prolapse, total vaginal eversion and grade IV [9] enterocele, with palpation of intestinal loops through the pessary. The enterocele and uterine cervix looked ulcerated, with bleeding and a purplish color with signs of necrosis (Figures 2 and 3). After bladder catheterization, an unsuccessful attempt was made to reduce the prolapse. Given the risk of incarceration of the bowel loops, it was decided to admit the patient for an urgent surgery.

In the first hours of admission, the prolapse is reduced on the hospital ward by placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position and applying local ice (Figure 4).

Subsequently, after anticoagulation and atrial fibrillation control by the Cardiology service, urgent surgery was performed with a total vaginal hysterectomy, anterior colporrhaphy, Ritcher's operation, and colpoperineorrhaphy (Figures 5 and 6). The surgery went without incident. During the immediate postoperative period, the patient required permanent bladder catheterization due to elevated post-void residues and was discharged on the fourth day with a bladder catheter, which was successfully removed on the ninth day after surgery.

Risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse include obesity, multiparity, menopause, and advanced age [7], all of which are included in the clinical case presented. POP or enterocele can occur with or without a history of hysterectomy, and treatment should be offered to symptomatic patients. Whether conservative or surgical management is chosen, the goal of management is to reduce the prolapse to improve the patient's quality of life [2]. The incidence of enterocele ranges from 0.1% to 16% in women who have undergone previous gynecological surgery [12], however, this is not the case in our patient. Small bowel obstruction as a complication of an enterocele is very rare. Although it may manifest as incomplete emptying of the rectum, the only symptom significantly associated with enterocele is vaginal prolapse itself [2].

In terms of surgical management, there is no single solution for all patients. The kind of surgery depends on different factors such as age, associated comorbidity, sexual activity, type of prolapse etc. [3]. The surgical prognosis will depend on the severity of symptoms, the extent of prolapse, the surgeon's experience and the patient's expectations [7]. It is estimated that surgery is associated with a recurrence rate of around 30% [3,7], so it is very important to select patients carefully and individualize the kind of surgery, reparative or obliterative, associating recurrence prevention techniques when necessary (McCall's culdoplasty and/or fixation of structures to the sacrospinous ligament or Ritcher's operation).

Our case describes an 81-year-old patient, with POP risk factors and severe comorbidities, who initially opted for conservative treatment with a pessary and stitches in the perineum, according to the technique described and published by Pérez et al. in 2023 [10]. After expulsion of the pessary, surgery was considered, but was temporarily postponed due to high anesthetic risk and cardiological problems. During the waiting period, the prolapse progressed and the tissues acquired a purplish and eroded appearance, possibly due to venous stasis, with the risk of vaginal necrosis and intestinal incarceration. At this point, the anesthetic risk is assumed due to the risk of intestinal necrosis and even vaginal rupture and evisceration, and surgical repair is carried out urgently.

It should be noted that prolapse reduction was possible thanks to preoperative management with the patient being placed in the Trendelenburg position together with the application of local ice to the perineum. In this way the tissues were in a better condition to be repaired.

Due to the total eversion of the vagina, in addition to hysterectomy, anterior colporrhaphy and closure of the peritoneal hernia, fixation of the vaginal vault to the right sacrospinous ligament was performed, in order to reduce the risk of subsequent recurrence.

The diagnosis of advanced enterocele with risk of bowel obstruction or even ischemia is a very rare but potentially serious event due to the risk of bowel necrosis, systemic infection or evisceration after vaginal rupture. Its immediate recognition and management are very important for patients with this clinical presentation. Ideally, it would be desirable to first reduce the congested structures in order to manage the tissues in the best possible conditions.

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Authors’ contribution

All authors contributed to the study manuscript and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by María Cuaresma González, Sonia de Miguel Manso, Paula Suárez Mansilla, and Marta Ibáñez Nieto. The first draft of the manuscript was written by María Cuaresma González. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent to publish

The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.