Robotic vNOTES Techniques for Hysterectomy in a Patient with a 16-week Sized Uterus and a Body Mass Index of 70

Abstract

To demonstrate the surgical techniques for robotic vNOTES hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) in a World Health Organization class 3 obesity patient (body mass index=70) as well as large fibroid uterus (16 weeks sized). Stepwise demonstration with narrated video footage. An academic tertiary care hospital. Our patient is a 50-year-old G0 with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding with an enlarged uterus; her endometrial biopsy showed complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. The surgical exposure for extremely obese patients with a concomitantly large uterus can be very challenging transabdominally due to the patient being unable to tolerate the Trendelenburg position and abdominal gas pressure [1-5]. Therefore, transvaginal NOTES can be an alternative option for these types of challenging patients. However, although there are clear benefits of vNOTES surgery in obese patients, we still need to be thoughtful and deliberate in handling this kind of surgery [6]. Several key success factors that aid in the completion of the surgery include 1. Appropriate patient positioning (Trenguard Position) as tolerated. 2. Initial vaginal section of hysterectomy. 3. Successful port placement. 4. Trendelenburg, as far as tolerated. 5. Harnessing the robotic camera for anterior colpotomy. 6. Utilizing alternative surgical exposure techniques: air seal for maintaining gas pressure for optimizing exposure, lap pad for thermal isolation, and maintaining the uterus for safe exposure during BSO. 7. After identification of the bilateral ureters, the broad, round, and uterine ovarian ligaments were transected with vessel sealer (less thermal spread), and the cystectomy was completed. (Supplemental Video 1) 8. BSO was completed. 9. In-bag uterine tissue extraction. 10. Vaginal cuff closure with V-Loc barbed suture. Robotic-assisted NOTES hysterectomy with BSO is feasible and safe in extremely obese patients with large uterus. The combination of all these strategies could aid in the feasibility and safety of patients with these challenging pathology and morbidity.