The Impact of Genital Hiatus in the Long-term Outcomes of Apical Prolapse Repair

The objective was to evaluate and compare the short-term postoperative complications of concomitant pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and rectal prolapse repair with isolated apical prolapse repair or rectopexy. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus for studies published up to April 2024. Studies included were retrospective case-control studies, clinical cohort studies, and randomized clinical trials comparing short-term complications between concomitant apical and rectal prolapse repairs versus isolated repairs. A total of seven studies, encompassing 16,471 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 843 patients underwent concomitant surgery, 7,808 underwent apical prolapse repair alone, and 7,820 underwent rectopexy alone. The meta-analysis revealed no significant increase in the overall complication rate for the concomitant group compared with the apical prolapse alone (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.56, 1.09; p = 0.14; I2 = 0%) or rectopexy alone (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.49, 1.25; p = 0.31; I2 = 48%). Furthermore, serious complication rates were not significantly higher in the concomitant group compared with isolated apical prolapse repair (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.43, 1.16; p = 0.16; I2 = 0%) or rectopexy alone (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.54, 1.35; p = 0.50; I2 = 39%). Concomitant apical and rectal prolapse repair does not significantly increase the risk of short-term postoperative complications compared with isolated repairs. This approach appears safe and feasible, suggesting that combined surgeries might offer a comprehensive treatment for patients with multicompartmental prolapse without elevating operative risks.

The purpose of this article is to review and comment on the recent medical evidence regarding minimally invasive procedures for apical pelvic organ prolapse repair. Sacrocolpopexy remains the “gold standard” repair for apical prolapse for those who desire to maintain sexual function, and minimally invasive approaches offer equal efficacy with lower risk than open sacrocolpopexy. Similar to the impact on hysterectomy rates, the introduction of robotic technology has converted a large number of open abdominal sacrocolpopexy procedures to a minimally invasive approach in the USA. Newer surgical approaches such as nerve-sparing techniques of dissection at the sacral promontory, use of the iliopectineal ligaments, and natural orifice vaginal sacrocolpopexy offer potential improvements for apical repair. Whether using traditional laparoscopy or robotic assistance, prolapse recurrence is consistently noted in at least 10% of patients. Recent evidence has confirmed that ancillary factors including pre-operative prolapse stage, retention of the cervix and/or uterus, type of mesh implant, and genital hiatus size all adversely affect surgical efficacy. Minimally invasive apical repair procedures seem well suited to early recovery after surgery protocols. While overall complication rates are low, small bowel injury is higher with any abdominal approach and aggressive evaluation of women not meeting routine post-operative goals is advised. Minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy has achieved similar outcomes to the traditional abdominal route and should be considered the new “gold standard” in apical prolapse repair. Alterations in surgical techniques can reduce the risk of constipation.

Central descent due to a level 1 defect is a main component in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) reconstructive surgery, whether for symptomatic apical prolapse or for the prolapse repair of other compartments. A recent growth in the rate of native tissue repair procedures for POP, following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings regarding the safety and efficacy of synthetic meshes, requires a re-evaluation of these procedures. The safety, efficacy, and determination of the optimal surgical approach should be the center of attention. Functional outcome measures and patient-centered results have lately gained importance and received focus. A comprehensive literature review was performed to evaluate objective and subjective outcomes of apical prolapse native tissue repair, with a special focus on studies reporting impact on patients' functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction. We performed a MEDLINE search for articles in the English language by using the following key words: apical prolapse, sacrospinous ligament fixation, uterosacral ligament suspension, sacral colpopexy, McCall culdoplasty, iliococcygeus vaginal fixation, and functional outcomes. We reviewed references as well. Despite a prominent shortage of studies reporting standardized prospective outcomes for native tissue repair interventions, we noted a high rate of safety and efficacy, with a low complication rate for most procedures and low recurrence or re-treatment rates. The objective and subjective results of different procedures are reviewed. Functional outcomes of native tissue repair procedures have not been studied sufficiently, though existing data present those procedures as favorable and not categorically inferior to sacrocolpopexy. Apical compartment prolapse repair using native tissue is not a compromise. Functional outcomes of native tissue repair procedures are favorable, have a high rate of success, improve women's quality of life (QoL), and result in high rates of patient satisfaction. This subject requires further long-term, standardized prospective studies following the International Continence Society/International Urogynecologists Association guidelines for surgical outcomes report, with the focus on patient-centered functional outcomes.

To compare surgical success rates in older versus younger women a minimum of 3 years post transvaginal native tissue repair for apical prolapse. Post-operative symptom severity and quality of life improvement, surgical complications and retreatment were also examined. Women who underwent transvaginal native tissue repair for apical prolapse between 2011 and 2013 were eligible. Subjects completed the pelvic floor distress inventory (PFDI-20), pelvic floor impact questionnaire (PFIQ-7), and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I), and were categorized as "younger" (age <70) or "older" (age ≥70). The primary outcome of surgical success was defined as the absence of bulge symptoms and no re-treatment for prolapse. Of 641 eligible patients, response rate was 51.0%. 62.7% of subjects had hysterectomy prior to index surgery. Surgical success was noted in 72.9% of younger and 82.2% of older subjects (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.72, 95% CI [0.93, 3.17]). Older women had greater improvement from baseline in PFDI-20 score (-87.5 [IQR 74.0] vs -54.2 [IQR 80.2], P = 0.01). Retreatment rate and surgical complication rates were similar between groups (both P > 0.05). Older and younger women had similar surgical success rates a minimum of 3 years post-operative; however, older women had a greater overall symptom severity improvement. This information may be helpful in counseling older women regarding surgical expectations and decision-making.

Same-day Discharge vs Planned Admission after Surgical Treatment for Apical Prolapse

Oral Poster Presentations: AUGS-SGS Abstracts: 2004 Joint Scientific Meeting The American Urogynecologic Society and The Society of Gynecologic Surgeons

Prolapse of the vaginal apex can be treated using multiple surgical modalities. We describe national trends and patient characteristics associated with the surgical approach and compare perioperative outcomes of abdominal versus vaginal repair of apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The 2006-2012 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried for abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) and vaginal apical suspensions. Patients were stratified by whether or not concomitant hysterectomy (CH) was performed or whether or not they were post-hysterectomy (PH). Multivariate logistic regressions were adjusted for confounding variables. A total of 6,147 patients underwent apical POP repair: 33.9% (2,085) ASCs, 66.1% (4,062) vaginal suspensions. 60.0% (3,689) underwent CH. In all cohorts, older patients were less likely to have ASC (CH: OR 0.48, CI 0.28-0.83, p = 0.008 for age ≥ 60; PH: OR 0.28, CI 0.18-0.43, p < 0.001). Over time, the proportion of all vaginal and abdominal repairs remained relatively stable. Use of minimally invasive ASC, however, increased over the study period (trend p < 0.001), and use of mesh for vaginal suspensions decreased (p < 0.001). ASC had a longer median operative time (PH 174 vs 95min, p < 0.001; CH 192 vs 127min, p < 0.001). Complication rates were the same for vaginal repairs and ASC, overall and when sub-stratified by hysterectomy status. Nationally, most apical POP repairs are performed via a vaginal route. Older age was predictive of the vaginal route for both CH and PH groups. ASCs had longer operative times. There has been increased utilization of minimally invasive ASC and decreased use of mesh-augmented vaginal suspensions over time.

To assess the outcomes of surgical repair of anterior apical prolapse using the 6-strap mesh implant. The prospective study included 100 patients with genitourinary prolapse. We used advanced 6-strap mesh implant. The results were assessed at 1 (n = 100) and 12 (n = 93) months after surgery. Maximum follow-up was over 4 years. The anatomical outcomes according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system and intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed. Stage II and higher prolapse was considered to be a recurrence. The quality of life and sexual function were assessed using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 20, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire 7, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire 12. Median age was 57 years (34-78 years (95% confidence interval)). All patients had stage III cystocele. The anterior vaginal wall descent in all the patients was associated with uterine descent: 37 (37%), stage II; 60 (60%), stage III; in 3 (3%), stage IV. In eight cases, postoperative de novo stress urinary incontinence developed. The quality of life improved in 93 (93%) women as judged by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory 20 data and in 87 (87%) women, according to the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire 7 data. The desirable anatomical result (⩽stage I according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system) was achieved in 97 (97%) patients. With the exception of mesh fragment excision due to erosion (grade 3a), all the complications were classified as grade I according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Genitourinary prolapse repair using 6-strap mesh is efficacious and relatively safe. The method demonstrates good anatomical results in relation to both anterior and apical prolapses with relatively short-term complications.

V2-02 TOTAL AUTOLOGOUS FASCIA LATA ANTERIOR REPAIR AND APICAL SUSPENSION: A NEW TECHNIQUE

About Commissural Prolapse and Mitral Valve Repair

Consecutive robotic-assisted prolapse repairs at a single institution between 2006 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed for patient characteristics, operative information, and outcomes. A total of 196 women (mean age, 61 ± 9 years) underwent robotic prolapse repair (189 sacrocolpopexy, 6 sacrohysteropexy, 1 enterocele repair). Concomitant procedures included hysterectomy (88), midurethral sling (84), and/or Burch colposuspension (7). Mean odds ratio time was 242 ± 69.9 minutes, and median length of stay was 1 day. Intraoperative complications were as follows: cystotomy (4), vaginotomy (4), conversion to open (2), bowel injury/aborted (1), adhesions/aborted (1), and ureteral injury (1). Women with complications had greater blood loss than those without complications (P = 0.0015). Immediate (<30 days) postoperative complications were rare: port-site hernia (2), discitis (1), ileus (1), and ulnar neuropraxia (3). At median follow-up of 9 months (range, 0-85 months), 14 women had recurrent grade 3 prolapse, and 4 had grade 2 apical prolapse. Nine of 14 women had additional prolapse repair at a mean of 9.5 ± 6.3 months. Vaginal mesh exposure was detected in 12 (6.3%) of 192 women. There were 6 procedures for mesh exposure and 2 procedures for exposed sutures. One mesh erosion into the bladder required open excision. In this large series of robotic prolapse repair, complications are infrequent. Short-term apical outcomes are excellent. Few women required additional compartment repairs within 1 year with 6% rate of mesh exposure.

Racial and ethnic differences in reconstructive surgery for apical vaginal prolapse

V1-05 APICAL SLING FOR FOR SITE SPECIFIC PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE REPAIR

Long-term comparison of non-mesh anchoring vs mini mesh for apical suspension.

Outcomes of mitral valve repair for bileaflet prolapse