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Paravaginal Repair

Paravaginal repair is a surgical procedure that reattaches the detached lateral vaginal wall (pubocervical fascia) to its normal insertion on the arcus tendineus fascia pelvis (ATFP, "white line") on the pelvic sidewall, correcting anterior vaginal wall prolapse caused by lateral support defects.[1][2][3] It can be performed via transvaginal, open abdominal, laparoscopic, or robotic approaches.

This page is the canonical 04g Prolapse Repair entry for paravaginal repair across all approaches, including the lattice / fascial-patch variant. For the central-defect repair, see Anterior Colporrhaphy.

Historical Background and Anatomic Rationale​

The concept of the paravaginal defect was popularized by George White (1909) and refined by A. Cullen Richardson (1976, 1981), who proposed that some cystourethroceles reflect discrete breaks in the endopelvic fascia rather than generalized tissue attenuation.[3][4] In Richardson's historical series of 233 procedures for stress urinary incontinence associated with cystourethrocele, a paravaginal break was the most frequently encountered defect; the authors reported > 95% functionally satisfactory results at 2–8 yr follow-up. This is not a contemporary comparative prolapse-success estimate.[4]

Reported paravaginal-defect prevalence depends on the population and diagnostic method; two clinical-versus-operative comparison studies found defects at surgery in up to 47% of women with anterior prolapse, not a universal 60–80% rate.[6] The concept is grounded in DeLancey's Level II vaginal support — the lateral attachment of the mid-vagina to the ATFP and underlying levator ani muscles. Apical and muscular support also matter, so a lateral detachment is not a complete explanation of every cystocele.[6][7]

Anatomy of the Paravaginal Defect​

Support of the anterior vaginal wall involves the levator ani, ATFP, pubocervical fascia, and uterosacral / cardinal ligaments.[6] A paravaginal defect describes loss of lateral vaginal support near the ATFP. In a 30-case/30-control stress-MRI study, apical location, paravaginal location and hiatus size formed a highly correlated "collinear triad" explaining up to 83% of variation in cystocele size within that model; this is not a population prevalence or proof that any one component alone causes prolapse.[7]

Paravaginal support repairOriginal schematic · v2026-09-20 · Clinical review pending

Conceptual lateral-support schematic, axial view—not a complete model of anterior prolapse. (1) A lateral attachment defect allows sulcal descent; (2) the illustrated sutures reattach lateral vaginal support toward the arcus tendineus fascia pelvis ("white line"). Suture number and concomitant midline/apical repair vary by technique and patient. Contrast anterior colporrhaphy. (Original WARWIKI schematic; clinical figure review pending.)

A classification system describes paravaginal defects as:[8]

Defect typeDescription
Fascial defectsPartial or complete tears in the paravaginal visceral pelvic fascia
Muscular defectsLevator ani tears of varying location
Combined fascial + muscularBoth lesions in the same patient

All of these can produce the same clinical finding — descent of the lateral vaginal sulcus.[8]

Diagnosis​

Diagnosing paravaginal defects remains challenging:[6][9]

ModalityNotes
Physical examinationCommonly used; operative-comparison studies report inconsistent sensitivity and specificity. Loss of lateral sulci or reduction with lateral support can suggest a defect, but neither proves a discrete fascial tear.
MRIDisplaced lateral vaginal walls; loss of normal vaginal "H" configuration; "saddlebags" (Level II) and "mustache" (Level III) signs. Missing-H may reflect pubococcygeus defects rather than true fascial paravaginal defects.[10][11]
UltrasoundTranslabial and other approaches can depict support relationships, but criteria and specificity for a discrete fascial defect remain unsettled. Older transabdominal bladder-base signs alone are unreliable.[6][9]
Intraoperative assessmentDirect inspection of the lateral attachment is possible when the retropubic space is exposed; it is an anatomic reference in operative-comparison studies, not a routine diagnostic test for every patient.[6][12]

Surgical Technique​

Transvaginal Approach[1][2][13]​

  1. Midline anterior vaginal wall incision
  2. Sharp dissection of the vagina from bladder fascia continues laterally until the pelvic sidewall is identified
  3. The retropubic space is entered under the inferior pubic ramus
  4. The ATFP (white line) is identified on the pelvic sidewall
  5. 3–6 permanent or delayed-absorbable sutures are placed from the lateral vaginal wall / pubocervical fascia to the ATFP on each side
  6. Tying these sutures elevates the lateral vaginal sulci
  7. A midline plication (standard anterior colporrhaphy) is typically performed concurrently
  8. Excess vaginal skin is trimmed and the vaginal wall is closed

Open Abdominal Approach[5][14]​

  1. Pfannenstiel or low midline incision
  2. The retropubic space (space of Retzius) is entered
  3. The ATFP is identified bilaterally
  4. Sutures are placed from the lateral vaginal wall to the ATFP
  5. Often combined with Burch colposuspension or sacrocolpopexy

Laparoscopic / Robotic Approach[5][15][16][17]​

  1. Transperitoneal access to the space of Retzius
  2. Identification of the ATFP and paravaginal defects under magnified visualization
  3. Suture placement from lateral vagina to ATFP (typically 4–6 sutures per side)
  4. Often combined with sacrocolpopexy and / or Burch colposuspension

Variations​

VariationDescriptionReference
Trans-obturator native-tissue paravaginal repairAvoids complex retropubic dissection[18]
Modified cross-stitch paravaginal repair (Huang 2022)Reverse bridge repair + cross-stitching of bilateral sutures; reported success was 93/98 (94.9%) at 12 mo, 61/71 (91.0%) at 24 mo, and 16/21 (76.2%) at 48 mo. The later percentages reflect substantial follow-up attrition.[19]
Ischial periosteum / obturator membrane fixation (Scotti 1998)Anchor distal to ATFP for greater suspension[20]
Paravaginal lattice technique (Rude 2021)See dedicated subsection below — hybrid native-tissue repair intertwining midline colporrhaphy sutures with lateral ATFP / obturator-fascia sutures into a lattice scaffold[29]

Paravaginal Lattice Technique (Rude 2021)​

The paravaginal lattice technique is a post-mesh-era native-tissue innovation described by Rude et al. (2021) that combines midline anterior colporrhaphy with lateral paravaginal sutures intertwined into a lattice-work configuration, designed to simultaneously address both central and lateral defects through a single transvaginal incision without mesh.[29]

Concept​

The technique attempts to create a suture-based scaffold that mimics the broad support previously provided by mesh, using native-tissue fixation points rather than synthetic material. The key innovation is intertwining the midline plication sutures with the lateral ATFP / obturator-fascia sutures so the two sets of sutures form a unified support structure rather than independent repairs.

Step-by-Step​

  1. Standard midline anterior vaginal wall incision and dissection
  2. Lateral sutures — 2-0 PDS placed at the level of the obturator fascia / ATFP: one distally and one proximally on each side (4 lateral sutures total)
  3. Midline sutures — standard midline anterior colporrhaphy with 4 separate 2-0 PDS sutures through the pubocervical fascia
  4. Lattice formation — midline colporrhaphy sutures are intertwined with the lateral obturator / ATFP sutures and tied, creating a cross-hatch pattern
  5. The lattice configuration elevates the central repair laterally while anchoring the construct to the pelvic sidewall

Outcomes (Rude 2021 prospective cohort, n = 109, mean follow-up 12 mo)[29]​

OutcomeResult
Anatomic recurrence (POP-Q Ba ≥ −1)11% (12 / 109)
Mean time to recurrence13.9 mo
Intraoperative complications0%
Transient urinary retention19% (all self-resolved with conservative management)
De novo SUI4%
Recurrence association with concomitant apical / posterior repairNone

Comparison with Adjacent Techniques​

FeatureLattice (Rude 2021)Standard ACStandard paravaginalModified cross-stitch (Huang 2022)
Defects addressedCentral + lateralCentral onlyLateral onlyLateral with cross-stitch reinforcement
Suture material2-0 PDS (absorbable)VariablePermanent or delayed-absorbableNot specified
Lateral fixationObturator fascia / ATFPNoneATFPATFP with cross-stitching
Outcome evidenceSingle-surgeon cohort, 109 patients; 11% met POP-Q Ba ≥ −1 recurrence, mean follow-up 12 mo; 19% transient retentionNative-tissue evidence spans different populations and definitions; see anterior colporrhaphyIsolated and combined repairs are both reported; central recurrence may remain after lateral-only repairRetrospective series with shrinking denominators: 93/98 at 12 mo, 61/71 at 24 mo, 16/21 at 48 mo

Caveats​

  • Single-surgeon, single-center prospective cohort — generalizability is uncertain
  • Short follow-up (mean 12 mo) — native-tissue repairs characteristically decline over time; long-term durability is unknown
  • Absorbable PDS — loses tensile strength by ~ 6 mo, raising the question of whether the lattice scaffold persists long enough for tissue remodeling
  • 19% transient urinary retention in this cohort; a causal comparison with standard anterior colporrhaphy cannot be made from different series
  • No randomized comparison with AC, paravaginal, or mesh-augmented repair

The Rude lattice technique is a described native-tissue option with a clear short-term operative series. Its 11% POP-Q Ba recurrence and 19% transient retention should not be compared directly with mesh, standard anterior colporrhaphy, or other paravaginal cohorts that used different patients, endpoints, and follow-up intervals. Long-term durability and comparative benefit remain unproven.

Outcomes by Approach​

These figures come from different studies with different definitions of success, follow-up and concomitant procedures. They describe reported experience within an approach, not a ranked head-to-head effectiveness comparison.

ApproachSuccess rate (prolapse)SUI cure rateKey advantagesKey disadvantages
Transvaginal76–98% across short-term series; 16/21 (76.2%) evaluable at 4 yr in Huang's modified-technique series72–84% in selected SUI seriesSingle incision; no abdominal entryTechnically demanding; hemorrhage risk; limited visualization[1][2][3][19]
Open abdominal86–97% case series; 60% at 2 yr (RCT)61–72%Excellent visualization; can combine with BurchLonger recovery; abdominal incision[5][14][21]
Laparoscopic76% (with secondary colporrhaphy 84%)VariableMinimally invasive; magnified viewSteep learning curve; one comparative trial abandoned approach due to poor outcomes[5][17]
Robotic81–88% (with sacrocolpopexy)Not primary indicationExcellent visualization; ergonomicCost; limited long-term data[15][22]

Paravaginal Repair vs. Anterior Colporrhaphy​

This is a fundamental comparison — the two procedures address different anatomic defects: lateral (paravaginal) vs. central (midline plication).[3]

TrialnOutcome
Weber & Walters 1997 review[3]—Reported failure 0–20% for AC and 3–14% for paravaginal repair in case series; no controlled comparison available at the time
Menefee 2011 RCT[23]99 randomized; 78 completed ≥2 yr2-yr anatomic failure: AC 58% / porcine-graft paravaginal 46% / polypropylene-mesh paravaginal 18% (p = 0.002 mesh vs AC). Composite (bulge symptoms and anatomic failure) was 13% / 12% / 4%, without a significant between-group difference; mesh erosion was 14%. The polypropylene transvaginal POP mesh arm is historical, not a currently marketed US option.
Minassian 2014 RCT[14]702-yr objective failure: vaginal AC + absorbable polyglactin mesh 32% vs abdominal paravaginal repair 40% (p = 0.56); satisfaction 88% vs 73% (p = 0.11). This does not compare unaugmented AC with paravaginal repair, and concurrent hysterectomy differed (71% vs 42%).
Cai 2025 RCT[24]102In women aged 40–70 with symptomatic SUI and stage 2–3 anterior prolapse, combined paravaginal + pubocervical fascia plication had higher 12-mo patient-reported improvement (94.1% vs 78.4%), objective SUI cure (90.2% vs 74.5%), and anatomic success (92.2% vs 80.4%) than standard AC. The selected combined SUI/POP population limits generalization.

Vaginal vs. Abdominal Approach​

A prospective comparative study of 45 patients found no significant difference in subjective and objective outcomes between abdominal and vaginal paravaginal repair at 12 months. The laparoscopic arm was abandoned after 5 patients due to inferior outcomes.[5] A Cochrane review found no evidence of a difference in POP-Q point Ba between vaginal and abdominal repair, though total vaginal length was longer after vaginal repair (MD 3.20 cm).[25]

Effect on Stress Urinary Incontinence​

Paravaginal repair has a secondary continence effect by restoring bladder-neck support, but it is inferior to Burch colposuspension as a primary anti-incontinence procedure:[21][26]

TrialFinding
Colombo 1996 RCT (n = 36)[21]Burch 100% vs paravaginal 61% objective cure (p = 0.004); negative cotton-swab 100% vs 33% (p = 0.01). Authors concluded paravaginal repair is not recommended for SUI.
Bruce 1999 (n = 52)[26]SUI cure 72% with paravaginal alone; 85% when combined with rectus muscle sling for ISD
Scotti 1998 (n = 40)[20]94.4% SUI cure with paravaginal repair using fixation to ischial periosteum and obturator membrane

Complications​

Complications vary by approach and concomitant surgery; the event counts below belong to their named series and should not be treated as a comparative risk estimate against anterior colporrhaphy.[12][13][17]

ComplicationRate
Hemorrhage (most significant risk; predominantly with vaginal approach)Young et al. — 3 major intraoperative hemorrhagic events in 100 vaginal paravaginal repairs; one converted to AC[13]
Bladder injury / cystotomy2.3% in one laparoscopic series[16]
Voiding dysfunction (transient retention)Common
Lower-extremity neuropathy2% (long-term) in one series[13]
Recurrent midline (central) cystocele after isolated lateral repair22% in one series[13]
De novo enterocele after vaginal paravaginal repair5%[13]
Major complications — laparoscopic approach4.2% (9 / 212)[17]

Recurrence and Risk Factors​

Recurrence and objective failure vary by approach, definition and follow-up duration:

Time horizonRecurrence
Short-term (1 yr)2–5% lateral defect recurrence[12][13]
At 2 yrMinassian's abdominal paravaginal RCT arm had 40% objective stage-≥II failure; Huang's modified-technique series reported 61/71 (91.0%) success among those evaluated at 24 mo. These are not equivalent endpoints.[14][19]
At 4 yrHuang reported 16/21 (76.2%) success among the much smaller subset evaluated at 48 mo; this is not a 24% cumulative recurrence estimate for all 98 patients.[19]

MRI-associated recurrence findings: In Arenholt's prospective cohort, 46 women completed 6-month follow-up, 20 after paravaginal repair alone and 26 with concomitant surgery. The 39% recurrence rate was for the full cohort, not for the subgroup with pubococcygeus defects. Recurrence was more frequent among women with major pubococcygeus defects and a missing vaginal H configuration; these findings do not establish that the MRI sign diagnoses a fascial paravaginal tear.[11]

Concomitant apical support should also be assessed; anterior descent often reflects more than one support defect.[6][7]

Concomitant Procedures​

Paravaginal repair is frequently combined with other procedures:[13][15][16]

  • Sacrocolpopexy — robotic paravaginal + SCP improved POP-Q Ba (2.1 → −2.0) and C (0.3 → −4.3); 81.4% satisfaction at 12 mo[15]
  • Burch colposuspension — commonly combined when SUI coexists[16]
  • Posterior colporrhaphy / enterocele repair — multicompartment prolapse is common
  • Hysterectomy — when uterine prolapse coexists

Current Role and Guideline Positioning​

Paravaginal repair occupies a niche role in the surgical management of anterior vaginal wall prolapse:[27][28]

  • Theoretically appealing — addresses the specific anatomic defect (lateral detachment) rather than midline plication
  • Reliable preoperative diagnosis of isolated paravaginal defects remains difficult, limiting targeted application[6][9]
  • Most surgeons perform standard anterior colporrhaphy (which addresses central defects) as the primary transvaginal native-tissue repair, sometimes incorporating lateral sutures as an "ultralateral" modification
  • Paravaginal repair may be performed abdominally or robotically in conjunction with sacrocolpopexy when lateral defects are identified; vaginal native-tissue approaches are also described
  • ACOG does not specifically recommend paravaginal repair over anterior colporrhaphy but lists it among available vaginal and abdominal surgical techniques[27]

Summary — Paravaginal Repair vs. Anterior Colporrhaphy​

FeatureParavaginal repairAnterior colporrhaphy
Defect addressedLateral (Level II)Central (midline)
Anatomic goalReattach vagina to ATFPPlicate midline fascia
Outcome interpretationIsolated and combined approaches differ; use the source-specific cohorts and endpoints aboveNative-tissue, graft-augmented, and concomitant repairs must be distinguished; see anterior colporrhaphy
SUI effectNot a substitute for a dedicated continence operation; selected historical SUI cohorts are described aboveNeither a standard anterior repair nor a Kelly plication is an established stand-alone SUI treatment
Key complicationHemorrhage; central recurrenceRecurrence; de novo SUI
Diagnostic challengeDifficult to confirm preoperativelyNot defect-specific

See Also​

References​

1. Yeung E, Baessler K, Christmann-Schmid C, et al. "Transvaginal Mesh or Grafts or Native Tissue Repair for Vaginal Prolapse." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;3:CD012079. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012079.pub2

2. Baessler K, Christmann-Schmid C, Haya N, et al. "Surgery for Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse With or Without Stress Urinary Incontinence." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2026;2:CD013108. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013108.pub2

3. Weber AM, Walters MD. "Anterior Vaginal Prolapse: Review of Anatomy and Techniques of Surgical Repair." Obstet Gynecol. 1997;89(2):311-8. doi:10.1016/S0029-7844(96)00322-5

4. Richardson AC, Edmonds PB, Williams NL. "Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence Due to Paravaginal Fascial Defect." Obstet Gynecol. 1981;57(3):357-62. PMID 7465150

5. Hosni MM, El-Feky AE, Agur WI, Khater EM. "Evaluation of Three Different Surgical Approaches in Repairing Paravaginal Support Defects: A Comparative Trial." Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013;288(6):1341-8. doi:10.1007/s00404-013-2927-4

6. Arenholt LTS, Pedersen BG, Glavind K, Glavind-Kristensen M, DeLancey JOL. "Paravaginal Defect: Anatomy, Clinical Findings, and Imaging." Int Urogynecol J. 2017;28(5):661-673. doi:10.1007/s00192-016-3096-3

7. Chen L, Lisse S, Larson K, et al. "Structural Failure Sites in Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse: Identification of a Collinear Triad." Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(4):853-862. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001652

8. Otcenasek M, Gauruder-Burmester A, Haak LA, et al. "Paravaginal Defect: A New Classification of Fascial and Muscle Tears in the Paravaginal Region." Clin Anat. 2016;29(4):524-9. doi:10.1002/ca.22694

9. Nguyen JK. "Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Surgical Repair of Anterior Vaginal Prolapse Due to Paravaginal Defects." Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2001;56(4):239-46. doi:10.1097/00006254-200104000-00025

10. Huddleston HT, Dunnihoo DR, Huddleston PM, Meyers PC. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Defects in DeLancey's Vaginal Support Levels I, II, and III." Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995;172(6):1778-82. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(95)91411-0

11. Arenholt LTS, Pedersen BG, Glavind K, et al. "Prospective Evaluation of Paravaginal Defect Repair With and Without Apical Suspension: A 6-Month Postoperative Follow-Up With MRI, Clinical Examination, and Questionnaires." Int Urogynecol J. 2019;30(10):1725-1733. doi:10.1007/s00192-018-3807-z

12. Shull BL, Benn SJ, Kuehl TJ. "Surgical Management of Prolapse of the Anterior Vaginal Segment: An Analysis of Support Defects, Operative Morbidity, and Anatomic Outcome." Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1994;171(6):1429-36. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(94)90384-0

13. Young SB, Daman JJ, Bony LG. "Vaginal Paravaginal Repair: One-Year Outcomes." Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;185(6):1360-6. doi:10.1067/mob.2001.119073

14. Minassian VA, Parekh M, Poplawsky D, Gorman J, Litzy L. "Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Two Procedures for Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse." Neurourol Urodyn. 2014;33(1):72-7. doi:10.1002/nau.22396

15. Kim WB, Lee SW, Lee KW, et al. "Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Paravaginal Repair and Sacrocolpopexy in Patients With Pelvic Organ Prolapse." Urology. 2022;164:151-156. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2021.12.011

16. Miklos JR, Kohli N. "Laparoscopic Paravaginal Repair Plus Burch Colposuspension: Review and Descriptive Technique." Urology. 2000;56(6 Suppl 1):64-9. doi:10.1016/s0090-4295(00)00510-0

17. Behnia-Willison F, Seman EI, Cook JR, O'Shea RT, Keirse MJ. "Laparoscopic Paravaginal Repair of Anterior Compartment Prolapse." J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2007;14(4):475-80. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2006.12.002

18. Kalis V, Kovarova V, Rusavy Z, Ismail KM. "Trans-Obturator Cystocele Repair of Level 2 Paravaginal Defect." Int Urogynecol J. 2020;31(11):2435-2438. doi:10.1007/s00192-020-04337-x

19. Huang S, Lv Q, Li Y, Meng Q, Li M. "A Modified Technique for Paravaginal Repair of Cystocele With Paravaginal Defect: A Retrospective Study." Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022;269:108-113. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.12.028

20. Scotti RJ, Garely AD, Greston WM, Flora RF, Olson TR. "Paravaginal Repair of Lateral Vaginal Wall Defects by Fixation to the Ischial Periosteum and Obturator Membrane." Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;179(6 Pt 1):1436-45. doi:10.1016/s0002-9378(98)70007-9

21. Colombo M, Milani R, Vitobello D, Maggioni A. "A Randomized Comparison of Burch Colposuspension and Abdominal Paravaginal Defect Repair for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence." Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996;175(1):78-84. doi:10.1016/s0002-9378(96)70254-5

22. Hoke TP, Goldstein H, Saks EK, Vakili B. "Surgical Outcomes of Paravaginal Repair After Robotic Sacrocolpopexy." J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2018;25(5):892-895. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2018.01.013

23. Menefee SA, Dyer KY, Lukacz ES, et al. "Colporrhaphy Compared With Mesh or Graft-Reinforced Vaginal Paravaginal Repair for Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Obstet Gynecol. 2011;118(6):1337-1344. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e318237edc4

24. Cai Y, Su K, Bian A. "Comparing Combined Paravaginal Repair With Pubocervical Fascia Plication Versus Standard Anterior Colporrhaphy for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women With Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse: A Randomised Controlled Trial." Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2025;311(1):163-173. doi:10.1007/s00404-024-07864-w

25. Maher C, Feiner B, Baessler K, et al. "Surgery for Women With Anterior Compartment Prolapse." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;11:CD004014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004014.pub6

26. Bruce RG, El-Galley RE, Galloway NT. "Paravaginal Defect Repair in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence and Cystocele." Urology. 1999;54(4):647-51. doi:10.1016/s0090-4295(99)00225-3

27. Committee on Practice Bulletins—Gynecology and American Urogynecologic Society. "Pelvic Organ Prolapse: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 214." Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):e126-e142. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003519

28. Jelovsek JE, Maher C, Barber MD. "Pelvic Organ Prolapse." Lancet. 2007;369(9566):1027-38. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60462-0

29. Rude T, Sanford M, Cai J, et al. "Transvaginal Paravaginal Native Tissue Anterior Repair Technique: Initial Outcomes." Urology. 2021;150:125-129. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.06.070