Long-term results of robotic sacral hysteropexy for pelvic organ prolapse in China Single medical center

Robot-assisted sacrohysteropexy vs robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy in women with primary advanced apical prolapse: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the anatomic and clinical outcomes of robot-assisted sacrohysteropexy (RASH) against robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RASC) for the treatment of primary advanced apical prolapse.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all robot-assisted pelvic organ prolapse surgeries for primary advanced apical prolapse (stage ≥II) between January 2011 and May 2021 at an academic tertiary hospital. Surgical outcomes and pelvic organ function were evaluated using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative (POP-Q) stage and validated questionnaires (POPDI-6) during preoperative and postoperative 12-month follow-up evaluations. All data were obtained from electronic medical records.

RESULTS

A total of 2368 women underwent surgery for apical prolapse repair, and 18 women underwent either RASH (n = 11) or RASC (n = 7). Compared to the RASC group, the RASH group was significantly younger, premenopausal, and less parous. Preoperative prolapse stage, operative time, estimated blood loss, and hospitalization length was comparable between the groups. No intraoperative complications were observed. All women had a median follow-up duration of 24 months (range: 12-108 months). During the 12-month follow-up period, women in the RASH group reported higher satisfaction with the surgery than those in the RASC group (100% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.137). The mesh exposure rate was significantly higher in the RASC group (3/7, 42.9%) than in the RASH group (0/11, 0%) ( p = 0.043), which was found at 12 to 36 months postoperatively and was successfully managed with vaginal estrogen cream. In the RASH group, one woman required reoperation with anterior colporrhaphy for recurrent anterior prolapse at 60 months postoperatively. The apical success rate was 100% at one year postoperatively, without apical recurrence in either group during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

RASH represents an effective and feasible option for the surgical treatment of advanced primary apical prolapse in women who desire uterine preservation and have a significantly lower risk of mesh erosion than RASC.

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse among Peri- and Post-Menopausal Women

For patients with apical compartment pelvic organ prolapse (POP), abdominal sacrocolpopexy has been considered superior to the vaginal approach in terms of less dyspareunia and decreased risk of recurrence. Robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSC) can help overcome difficulties in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) by facilitating deep dissection and suturing. Moreover, RSC is a safe and efficacious option for patients with POP. It has several benefits, such as its high anatomical cure rate, improvement of sexual function, reduction of perioperative complications, and low recurrence rate. In addition, it can be a safe option for elderly patients. RSC has a steep learning curve and numerous other reported advantages compared with LSC; however, insufficient data conclude that the former is universally superior, especially in cost effectiveness. Thus, further studies are needed to support the widespread adoption of robot-assisted surgery for pelvic floor reconstruction.

Robotic single-site surgery for mature cyst teratoma cystectomy: an initial case series study in a single medical center in China

Objective

To report the first case series of robotic single-site (RSS) surgery via the da Vinci Si Surgical System for mature cyst teratoma cystectomy in China.

Materials and methods

The study was devised as a retrospective study in a single medical center. Five patients with mature cyst teratomas requested a minimally invasive surgical treatment. These patients were treated with RSS surgery for mature cyst teratoma between January 2014 and January 2015. RSS mature cyst teratoma cystectomies were performed with the da Vinci single-site platform in the Hainan branch of PLA General Hospital. Data regarding patient characteristics, surgical approach, and perioperative clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed in a retrospective study.

Results

All RSS procedures were completed successfully in the five patients. No instrument failure was noted during the procedures. The median operating time was 65 minutes (range 45–100 minutes). The median docking time was 20 minutes (range 18–28 minutes). No instrument failure was noted during any surgical procedures. The median blood loss was 30 mL (range 10–70 mL). No patient had massive intraoperative bleeding nor required a transfusion. No extra trocar was placed during the surgery. None of the patients had bladder or rectal injury. The median length of stay in hospital was 2.8 days. All patients were followed up until 6 months postoperatively, and no surgical complication occurred.

Conclusion

RSS mature cyst teratoma cystectomy using the wristed semirigid instrumentation is feasible. Randomized controlled trials with a larger number of patients and longer postoperative follow-up should be conducted to further evaluate the effect of this therapeutic strategy.

Laparoscopic inguinal ligament suspension: a novel procedure to repair uterine prolapse

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Traditionally, surgical treatment for uterine prolapse has included hysterectomy. However, more patients now prefer a uterine-preserving operation because of concerns about fertility or sexual dysfunction. In this video, we describe a novel approach to correcting uterine prolapse in an attempt to demonstrate an alternative option for patients.

METHODS

A 42-year-old woman with symptomatic stage I-IV uterine prolapse (POP-Q: Aa +2, Ba +2, C + 3, gh 6.5, pb 3, TVL 8.5, Ap 0, Bp 0, D 0) underwent inguinal ligament suspension. The principle steps and techniques to complete the operation are outlined in the video.

RESULTS

Prolapse repair was successfully completed without any intraoperative complications. The uterus was restored to its anatomic position. During the 12-month follow-up, neither recurrence nor postoperative complications, such as mesh exposure, de novo incontinence or bowel obstruction, etc., occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic inguinal ligament suspension is a safe and feasible alternative for correcting the uterine prolapse. This surgery could be an attractive choice for patients who prefer a uterine-sparing surgery.

Laparoscopic cervicopexy: a novel minimally invasive fertility conservative procedure for stages III and IV uterine prolapse – case series

Objective:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic anterior abdominal wall cervicopexy (LAWC), a novel minimally invasive procedure for management of stages III and IV uterine prolapse.

Subjects and methods:

The procedure was performed on 39 cases with symptomatic uterine prolapse during the period from June 2012 to January 2015. The procedure was started with obliteration of the pouch of Douglas through the approximation of the uterosacral ligaments with non-absorbable suture. Then, the procedure completed through anchoring the supravaginal cervix to the anterior abdominal wall by two non-absorbable sutures taken in good bites in the dense stroma of the supravaginal cervix.

Results:

Uterine prolapse was diagnosed as stage III in 36 (92.3%) women and stage IV in three cases. The procedure was conducted safely without any intraoperative complications. At 3 month follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction in the extent of prolapse at all pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) points as compared with preoperative assessment ( p = 0.000). Only five cases (12.8%) were found to have stage I uterine prolapse on evaluation by the POP-Q system after one year.

Conclusion:

LAWC is a minimally invasive, simple, and highly effective procedure to treat marked uterine prolapse and seems not to compromise fertility.