Apical Descent Research Articles

Hysterectomy versus uterine preservation for pelvic organ prolapse surgery: a prospective cohort study

One in 5 females will have surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse in their lifetime. Uterine-preserving surgery involving suspension of the uterus is an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional use of hysterectomy with vaginal vault suspension to treat pelvic organ prolapse; however, comparative evidence with native tissue repairs remains limited in scope and quality. To compare 1-year outcomes between hysterectomy-based and uterine-preserving native tissue prolapse surgeries performed through minimally invasive approaches. We used a nonrandomized design with patients self-selecting their surgical group to integrate a pragmatic, patient-centered, and autonomy-focused approach. Participants chose between uterine-preserving surgery or hysterectomy-based surgery, guided by neutral evidence-based discussions and individualized decision-making, with support from fellowship-trained urogynecologists. Inverse probability of treatment weighting based on high-dimensional propensity scores was used to balance baseline differences across surgical groups in an effort to resemble a randomized clinical trial. A prospective cohort study of 321 participants with stage ≥2 prolapse involving the uterus who desired surgical treatment were recruited between 2020 and 2022 and followed to 1year (retention >90%). Patients chose to receive uterine-preserving pelvic organ prolapse surgery through hysteropexy (n=151) or hysterectomy with vaginal vault suspension (n=170; reference group), with repair of anterior and/or posterior prolapse if indicated. The primary outcome was anatomic prolapse recurrence within 1year, defined as apical descent ≥50% of the total vaginal length. Secondary outcomes were perioperative, functional, clinical, and healthcare outcomes measured at 6weeks and 1year. Inverse probability of treatment weighted linear regression and modified Poisson regression were used to estimate adjusted mean differences and relative risks, respectively. Apical anatomic recurrence rates at 1year were 17.2% following hysterectomy and 7.5% following uterine-preservation, resulting in an adjusted relative risk of 0.35 (95% CI 0.15, 0.83). Uterine-preserving surgery was associated with shorter length of surgery (adjusted mean difference-0.68hours [-0.80,-0.55]) and hospitalization (adjusted mean difference-4.34hours [-7.91,-0.77]), less use of any opioids within 24hours (adjusted relative risk 0.79 [0.65, 0.97]), and fewer procedural complications (adjusted relative risk 0.19 [0.04, 0.83]) than hysterectomy. Up to 1year, uterine-preserving surgery was associated with lower risk of composite recurrence (stage ≥2 prolapse in any compartment or retreatment; adjusted relative risk 0.47 [0.32, 0.69]) than hysterectomy, driven by anatomic outcomes. There were no clinically meaningful differences in functional or healthcare outcomes between surgical groups. This study adds real-world evidence to the growing body of research supportive of uterine-preserving surgery as a safe, efficient, and effective alternative to hysterectomy during native tissue prolapse repair. Given mounting evidence on safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of uterine-preserving surgery and its alignment with the preferences of approximately half of patients to keep their uterus, the standard of care should include routine offering and patient choice between uterine-preserving and hysterectomy-based surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.

Minimally Invasive Total Versus Supracervical Hysterectomy With Sacrocolpopexy.

Limited data exist comparing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) versus laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSCH) at the time of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy for uterovaginal prolapse. The objective of this study was to compare TLH versus LSCH at the time of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy for uterovaginal prolapse, hypothesizing that LSCH would demonstrate a higher proportion of recurrent prolapse, but a lower proportion of mesh exposures. This was a retrospective, secondary analysis comparing a prospective cohort of patients undergoing TLH sacrocolpopexy versus a retrospective cohort of patients who had undergone LSCH sacrocolpopexy. Our primary outcome was composite anatomic pelvic organ prolapse recurrence (prolapse beyond hymen, apical descent > half vaginal length, retreatment). Secondary outcomes included vaginal mesh exposures. There were 733 procedures: 184 (25.1%) TLH sacrocolpopexy and 549 (74.9%) LSCH sacrocolpopexy. Median follow-up was longer in the TLH cohort (369 [IQR 354-386] vs 190 [IQR 63-362] days, P < 0.01). There was no difference in composite prolapse recurrence between groups on bivariable analysis (3.3% vs 4.7%, P = 0.40). However, multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that TLH sacrocolpopexy had lower odds of composite pelvic organ prolapse recurrence than LSCH sacrocolpopexy (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.82, P = 0.02). Among procedures with lightweight mesh types, TLH demonstrated a higher proportion of mesh exposures compared to LSCH (10 [5.4%] vs 4 [1.1%], P < 0.01); however, this was not significant after controlling for confounders (OR 4.51, 95% CI 0.88-39.25, P = 0.08). There were no differences in retreatment or reoperation. For the treatment of uterovaginal prolapse, both TLH and LSCH are acceptable methods of concomitant hysterectomy at the time of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, albeit with likely different risk profiles.

Genital hiatus measurements predict cuff prolapse risk in prolapse surgery

Background/Aim: Recognition and assessment of apical vaginal support defects remains a significant challenge in the evaluation and management of prolapse because there are no consensus or guidelines address the degree of apical support loss at which an apical support procedure should routinely be performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative genital hiatus (GH), perineal body (PB), and total vaginal length (TVL) are associated with prolapse recurrence after apical prolapse surgery. Methods: Our cohort study included 98 patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy apical suspension due to uterovaginal prolapse of grade 2 or higher according to Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) staging between 2020 and 2021. Patients with a history of gynecologic malignancy, those who could not tolerate surgery or anesthesia, those who had previously undergone pelvic organ prolapse surgery, those with concomitant stress urinary incontinence, and those with abnormal cervical smear results were excluded. Patients were followed for 2 years at intervals of 3 months in the first year after the surgery. The last POP-Q was performed 24 months after surgical intervention. Surgical failure or recurrence was defined as apical descent greater than one third of the total vaginal length, anterior or posterior vaginal wall past the hymen, subsequent surgery, or bothersome vaginal bulge. Patients were given the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS) questionnaire before surgery and 6 months postoperatively, and the severity of symptoms was compared between the groups with and without postoperative recurrence. Logistic regression (LR) analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting recurrence. Areas under the ROC curve were calculated as a differential diagnosis for the presence of recurrence, and the predictive value (cut-off) of variables was determined using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and LR (+) values. Results: While surgery was successful in 80 patients, genital relapse was seen in 18 patients. The mean preoperative perineal body was 3.05 (0.28) cm, mean preoperative GH was 3.9 (0.39) cm, and mean preoperative TVL was 8.54 (1.33) cm. The mean GH of the group with recurrence was significantly higher than the group without recurrence (P=0.004). The mean preoperative POP-SS score was 15.14 (1.86), and the postoperative POP-SS score was 4.01 (3.74). The postoperative POP-SS score mean of the recurrence (+) group was significantly higher than the group without recurrence (P&lt;0.001). For the genital hiatus, the cut-off &gt;4 cm had a sensitivity of 61.11%, specificity of 76.25%, positive predictive value of 36.70%, negative predictive value of 89.70%, and LR (+) value of 2.57. For POP-SS Preop-Postop Change %, the cut-off &lt;60 had a sensitivity of 94.44%, specificity of 98.75%, positive predictive value of 94.40%, negative predictive value of 98.80%, and LR (+) value of 75.56. Conclusion: Apical vaginal support loss is highly associated with genital hiatus size. In particular, according to all study definitions, a Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Quantification measurement genital hiatus of &gt;4 cm is a strong predictor of apical support loss. This simple measurement can be used to screen for apical support loss and further evaluate apical vaginal support before planning a hysterectomy or prolapse surgery.

Five-year surgical outcomes of transvaginal apical approaches in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse.

In women with advanced prolapse, differences in vaginal apex anchoring sites may impact surgical outcomes over time. The primary aim was to compare 5-year surgical outcomes of uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) versus sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) in women with advanced (stage III-IV) prolapse. A secondary analysis was conducted in a subset of women with advanced prolapse from a multicenter randomized trial comparing ULS versus SSLF and its extended follow-up, using publicly accessible de-identified datasets. The primary outcome was time to failure, defined as any one of (1) apical descent > 1/3 into the vaginal canal or anterior/posterior compartment beyond the hymen, (2) bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms, or (3) re-treatment. Secondary outcomes include symptom severity measured by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI) and adverse events. Of 285 women, 90/147 (61.2%) in ULS and 88/138 (63.8%) in SSLF had advanced prolapse. Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups except for median-vaginal deliveries (3.0 [2.0, 5.0] versus 3.0 [2.0, 4.0], p < 0.01). The median time to failure was 1.7years ULS versus 2.0years SSLF (p = 0.42). Surgical failure increased over time in both groups with no intergroup difference; by year 5, the estimated failure rate was 67.7% ULS versus 71.5% SSLF (adjusted difference -3.8; 95%CI [-21.9, 14.2]). No differences were noted in individual failure components (p > 0.05). POPDI scores improved over 5years without intergroup difference (ULS -68.0 ± 61.1 versus SSLF -69.9 ± 60.3, adjusted difference -0.1 [-20.0, 19.9]). No difference in adverse events were observed (p > 0.05). In women with advanced prolapse, surgical failure, symptom severity, and adverse events did not differ between ULS and SSLF over 5years.

MP07-07 ROBOTIC SACROCOLPOPEXY WITH UTERUS PRESERVATION: SURGICAL TECHNIQUE AND 12 YEAR EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN WITH COMPLETE VAGINAL VAULT EVERSION

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP07-07 ROBOTIC SACROCOLPOPEXY WITH UTERUS PRESERVATION: SURGICAL TECHNIQUE AND 12 YEAR EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN WITH COMPLETE VAGINAL VAULT EVERSION Cassandra Schuster, Benjamin Behers, Spencer Kortum, Genesis Dolgetta, Karim Ghazli, Victoria Bird, and Robert Carey Cassandra SchusterCassandra Schuster More articles by this author , Benjamin BehersBenjamin Behers More articles by this author , Spencer KortumSpencer Kortum More articles by this author , Genesis DolgettaGenesis Dolgetta More articles by this author , Karim GhazliKarim Ghazli More articles by this author , Victoria BirdVictoria Bird More articles by this author , and Robert CareyRobert Carey More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003222.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Robotic sacrocolpopexy with uterus preservation (RASCP-UP) is a transabdominal approach for repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) that avoids placement of transvaginal mesh and preserves female sexual organs. Although hysterectomy may be performed at the time of POP repair, many women choose to preserve their uterus for reasons of sexuality, female identity, religion, maintenance of maximal vaginal length and undisturbed vaginal blood supply, and resistance to removal of a normal organ. METHODS: Data was collected from an IRB-approved prospectively maintained database of robotic POP repair in a tertiary care hospital. The surgery is performed with a da Vinci Si or Xi system with 4 robotic ports and 1 assistant port. Commercially available 4×24 cm Y-shaped wide pore polypropylene mesh is modified to accommodate >10 cm anterior and posterior dissections of the vaginal walls. The anterior vaginal wall component is brought through the broad ligament and joined with the posteriorly placed component for attachment to the anterior longitudinal ligament with GoreTex sutures. The mesh is then completely covered by peritoneum. Mid-urethral slings were placed at the time of sacrocolpopexy to prevent de novo stress incontinence. All patients for RASCP-UP had stage 4 prolapse with maximal anterior, posterior, and apical descent with the cervix at the apex of the descent. All patients had normal Pap smears and pelvic ultrasounds. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2022, a total of 450 patients underwent RASCP at the same institution. Of these, 65 presented with complete vaginal vault eversion requesting RASCP-UP. Mean age was 65.9 years and mean BMI 28.0. Cases were completed with robotic console time between 59 and 123 minutes and all patients discharged within 24-48 hours. At mean 78-month (12 – 140 month) follow-up, there were no mesh erosions, hernias, or reoperations for prolapse. There was one reoperation for hysterectomy at 6 year follow up for suspected endometrial carcinoma and two reoperations for small bowel obstruction in patients with extensive lysis of adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: RASCP-UP is feasible for patients with severe POP who desire uterus preservation. The surgery restores normal vaginal axis and length without placement of mesh material through vaginal mucosa. Long-term results show durable functional repair. Women presenting with vaginal vault eversion and maximal descent of cervix can undergo repair of pelvic floor prolapse with concomitant hysterectomy. Source of Funding: none © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e86 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Cassandra Schuster More articles by this author Benjamin Behers More articles by this author Spencer Kortum More articles by this author Genesis Dolgetta More articles by this author Karim Ghazli More articles by this author Victoria Bird More articles by this author Robert Carey More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Total Autologous Fascia Lata Sacrocolpopexy for Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Experience in Thirty-Four Patients

ObjectiveTo develop a technique for open/robotic sacrocolpopexy using autologous fascia lata autograft. We report our experience in our first 34 patients. MethodsThe operation utilizes a 4-5-cm x 15-18-cm piece of fascia lata harvested through a 3-4-inch lateral upper thigh incision. The graft is configured into a traditional Y-shaped configuration using CV-2 Goretex sutures and is used to perform sacrocolpopexy. Patients were followed by history and physical, POP-Q scores, and symptoms related to thigh harvest including visual analog pain (VAP) scores. Treatment failure was defined as symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) involving apical descent. ResultsAutologous fascia lata sacrocolpopexy was performed on 34 patients with a mean age of 62. Mean follow-up was 13 months (range 2-42). Thirteen cases were open sacrocolpopexies, and 21 were robotic. Concurrent procedures included hysterectomy (9), vaginal mesh excision (7), bowel resection and rectopexy (5), and autologous sling (5). POP symptoms resolved in all 34 patients, and there were no treatment failures. The overwhelming majority of harvest site issues were minor and managed expectantly. Mean VAP score at the harvest site was 0.4 (range 0-3). Three patients developed non-bothersome thigh bulges. One patient developed a harvest site seroma. Twelve patients reported mild, non-bothersome harvest site paresthesias. No thromboembolic events occurred. ConclusionAutologous fascia lata sacrocolpopexy is an efficacious treatment for patients who desire non-mesh POP repair. Most harvest site issues are minor and typically resolve with expectant management alone. Continued follow-up of this series is ongoing to determine long-term success of this operation.

Laparoscopic Approach to Surgical Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Correction of apical descent is an essential component of a durable prolapse surgery and can be achieved by multiple different techniques and surgical approaches. Laparoscopic prolapse surgery produces excellent outcomes and lower costs, compared to robotic surgery, without compromising success and remains a valuable surgical approach to prolapse repair. This review summarizes the evidence for conventional laparoscopic apical prolapse repair, compared to alternative surgical approaches, and provides recommended techniques with tips and tricks to optimize this approach. (J GYNECOL SURG 39:19)

PD32-03 ROBOTIC SACROCOLPOPEXY WITH UTERUS PRESERVATION FOR WOMEN WITH COMPLETE VAGINAL VAULT EVERSION. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE WITH 10 YEAR EXPERIENCE

You have accessJournal of UrologyUrodynamics/Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Female Pelvic Medicine: Pelvic Prolapse (PD32)1 Sep 2021PD32-03 ROBOTIC SACROCOLPOPEXY WITH UTERUS PRESERVATION FOR WOMEN WITH COMPLETE VAGINAL VAULT EVERSION. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE WITH 10 YEAR EXPERIENCE Cassandra Schuster, and Robert Carey Cassandra SchusterCassandra Schuster More articles by this author , and Robert CareyRobert Carey More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002033.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Robotic sacrocolpopexy with uterus preservation (RASCP-UP) is a transabdominal approach to repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) that avoids placement of transvaginal mesh and preserves female sexual organs. Although hysterectomy may be performed at the time of POP repair, many women choose to preserve their uterus for reasons of sexuality, female identity, religion, maintenance of maximal vaginal length, and resistance to removal of a normal organ. METHODS: Data is collected from an IRB approved prospectively maintained database of robotic POP repair in an 836 bed tertiary care hospital. The surgery is performed with a da Vinci Si or Xi system with 4 robotic ports and 1 assistant port. Commercially available 4 x 24 cm Y-shaped wide pore polypropylene mesh is modified to accommodate >10 cm anterior and posterior dissections of the vaginal walls. The anterior vaginal wall component is brought through the broad ligament and joined with the posteriorly placed component for attachment to the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament with GoreTex sutures. The mesh is then completely covered by peritoneum. All patients for RASCP-UP had Stage 4 prolapse with maximal anterior, posterior and apical descent with the cervix at the apex of the descent. All patients had normal PAP smears and pelvic ultrasounds. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2021 a total of 351 patients underwent RASCP at the same institution. Of these, 54 presented with complete vaginal vault eversion requesting RASCP-UP. Mean age was 67.5 years and mean BMI 26.8. Cases were completed with robotic console time between 61 and 121 minutes and all patients discharged within 24-48 hours. At mean 60 month (12–124 month) follow-up, there were no mesh erosions, hernias, or reoperations for prolapse. There was one reoperation for hysterectomy at 6 year follow up for suspected endometrial carcinoma and one reoperation for small bowel obstruction in a patient with extensive lysis of adhesions. Mid-urethral slings were placed at the time of sacrocolpopexy to prevent de novo stress incontinence CONCLUSIONS: RASCP-UP is a reproducible, reliable procedure for patients with severe POP who desire uterus preservation. The surgery restores normal vaginal axis and length without placement of mesh material through vaginal mucosa. Long-term results show durable functional repair. Is the “unnecessary” removal of an otherwise normal uterus “necessary” for repair of POP? For a number of female patients, the answer appears to be no. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e545-e545 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Cassandra Schuster More articles by this author Robert Carey More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

Defining mechanisms of recurrence following apical prolapse repair based on imaging criteria

Prolapse recurrence after transvaginal surgical repair is common; however, its mechanisms are ill-defined. A thorough understanding of how and why prolapse repairs fail is needed to address their high rate of anatomic recurrence and to develop novel therapies to overcome defined deficiencies. This study aimed to identify mechanisms and contributors of anatomic recurrence after vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension (native tissue repair) vs transvaginal mesh (VM) hysteropexy surgery for uterovaginal prolapse. This multicenter study was conducted in a subset of participants in a randomized clinical trial by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. Overall, 94 women with uterovaginal prolapse treated via native tissue repair (n=48) or VM hysteropexy (n=46) underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging at rest, maximal strain, and poststrain rest (recovery) 30 to 42 months after surgery. Participants who desired reoperation before 30 to 42 months were imaged earlier to assess the impact of the index surgery. Using a novel 3-dimensional pelvic coordinate system, coregistered midsagittal images were obtained to assess study outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging-based anatomic recurrence (failure) was defined as prolapse beyond the hymen. The primary outcome was the mechanism of failure (apical descent vs anterior vaginal wall elongation), including the frequency and site of failure. Secondary outcomes included displacement of the vaginal apex and perineal body and change in the length of the anterior wall, posterior wall, vaginal perimeter, and introitus of the vagina from rest to strain and rest to recovery. Group differences in the mechanism, frequency, and site of failure were assessed using the Fisher exact tests, and secondary outcomes were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Of the 88 participants analyzed, 37 (42%) had recurrent prolapse (VM hysteropexy, 13 of 45 [29%]; native tissue repair, 24 of 43 [56%]). The most common site of failure was the anterior compartment (VM hysteropexy, 38%; native tissue repair, 92%). The primary mechanism of recurrence was apical descent (VM hysteropexy, 85%; native tissue repair, 67%). From rest to strain, failures (vs successes) had greater inferior displacement of the vaginal apex (difference,-12 mm; 95% confidence interval,-19 to-6) and perineal body (difference,-7 mm; 95% confidence interval,-11 to-4) and elongation of the anterior vaginal wall (difference, 12 mm; 95% confidence interval, 8-16) and vaginal introitus (difference, 11 mm; 95% confidence interval, 7-15). The primary mechanism of prolapse recurrence following vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension or VM hysteropexy was apical descent. In addition, greater inferior descent of the vaginal apex and perineal body, lengthening of the anterior vaginal wall, and increased size of the vaginal introitus with strain were associated with anatomic failure. Further studies are needed to provide additional insight into the mechanism by which these factors contribute to anatomic failure.

01 5-Year surgical outcomes of transvaginal apical approaches in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse

To compare 5-year surgical outcomes of uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) versus (vs) sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Secondarily, to explore differences in outcomes between advanced vs stage II POP. A secondary analysis was conducted in a subset of women with advanced (stages III-IV) POP from a multicenter randomized trial comparing (1) SSLF vs ULS and (2) perioperative behavioral with pelvic floor muscle training (BPMT) vs usual care. Publicly accessible de-identified datasets of the index trial with 5-year follow-up were analyzed. The primary outcome was time to surgical failure, defined as (1) apical descent >1/3 into vaginal canal or anterior/posterior vaginal wall beyond the hymen, (2) bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms, or (3) retreatment (pessary or surgery) for POP. Secondary outcomes included symptom severity measured by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI), and adverse events (AEs). Outcomes in women with advanced stage POP were also compared to those with stage II POP. Of 285 women in the index study, 90 of 147 (61.2%) in the ULS group and 88 of 138 (63.8%) in SSLF had advanced POP. Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups (mean age ULS = 61.0 ± 10.1 vs SSLF = 60.2 ± 9.9, P = 0.58). Surgical failure increased over 5 years in both groups with no intergroup difference (P = 0.42, Figure). By year 5, the estimated surgical failure rate was 67.7% for ULS vs 71.5% for SSLF (adjusted difference [a-diff] = 3.8; 95% CI = 21.9, 14.2). No difference was noted in individual failure components (Figure); anatomic: 56.7% ULS vs 65.2% SSLF (a-diff = 8.4; 95% CI = 28.0, 11.2), symptomatic: 38.8% ULS vs 43.1% SSLF (a-diff = 4.3; 95% CI = 22.6, 14.1), retreatment: 20.0% USL vs 15.9% SSLF (a-diff = 4.1; 95% CI = 9.4, 17.7). POPDI scores improved from baseline to 5 years in both groups without intergroup difference (ULS = 68.0 ± 61.1 vs SSLF = 69.9 ± 60.3, a-diff = 0.1; 95% CI = 20.0, 19.9). AEs such as granulation tissue, suture exposure, and midurethral sling exposure did not differ over 5 years. Comparing women with advanced stages vs stage II POP, the estimated surgical failure did not differ over 5 years; 69.8% advanced vs 55.7% stage II (a-diff = 14.1%; 95% CI = 33.7, 5.6). However, anatomic failure was higher in women with advanced POP (61.1% advanced vs 33.8% stage II, a-diff = 27.3%; 95% CI = 47.5, -7.0). There was no difference in symptomatic failure (41.4% advanced vs 33.3% stage II, a-diff = 8.1; 95% CI = 25.3, 9.1) or retreatment (11.7% advanced vs 8.0% stage II, a-diff = 3.6; 95% CI = 12.0, 4.7). In women with advanced stage POP, surgical failure, symptom severity, and AEs did not differ between ULS and SSLF over 5 years. Compared to stage II POP, women with advanced POP had higher anatomic failure.

Fast track sacrospinous ligament fixation: subjective and objective outcomes at 6\xa0months

BackgroundSacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) is a widely used vaginal procedure for correction of apical vaginal prolapse. The objective of this study was to evaluate subjective and objective outcomes of SSLF performed in a fast-track setting.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of sacrospinous ligament fixation performed using local anesthesia and light sedation in a fast-track setting at Aarhus University Hospital between April 2016 and December 2017. Objective signs of prolapse were assessed by gynecological examination preoperatively and at 6 months after the operation. Subjective symptoms were evaluated by questionnaires (the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI 20), and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) supplemented with individual questions from the ICIQ-vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) and Sexual Questionnaire-IR (PISQ-12) questionnaires).ResultsOne hundred and three women with a median age of 65 (36–84) years were included. Previous hysterectomy had been performed in 40% of the women, and 43% had a history of previous prolapse operations. At follow-up, 75% of the women had apical descent less than stage 2. However, 18% had anterior vaginal wall prolapse beyond the hymen, and 25% had recurrence of the apical prolapse stage 2 or more and were offered reoperation. Bladder and anal symptoms improved in most women after the operation, and the number of women reporting dyspareunia was halved. In the overall assessment by Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) questionnaire, 76% reported improvement. No serious operative complications were reported, and 81% of the patients were discharged on the day of the surgery.ConclusionIn this cohort with a high rate of previous prolapse surgery, sacrospinous ligament fixation performed in a fast-track setting showed subjective and objective results comparable to the results of apical native tissue repair reported in the literature. Furthermore, the complication rate was low.Trial registration This study was notified to The Central Denmark Region Committees on Health Research Ethics on July 7, 2015, and was approved by The Danish Data Protection Agency (1-16-02-442-15). All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. An informed consent for participation in the study and acceptance of using data for scientific purposes and publication was signed by all patients.

Suture Complication Rates and Surgical Outcomes According to the Nonabsorbable Suture Materials Used in Vaginal Uterosacral Ligament Suspension: Polyester versus Polypropylene

To evaluate suture complication rates and surgical outcomes according to the nonabsorbable suture materials used in vaginal uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) surgery. Multifilament polyester (polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) and monofilament polypropylene (PP) sutures were compared. Retrospective cohort study. Single teaching hospital. Total of 229 patients who underwent transvaginal USLS and completed a 1-year follow-up. Use of PET and PP sutures for transvaginal USLS procedures. PP sutures were used in 149 patients, and PET sutures were used in 80 patients. The suture-related complication rates, including granulation tissue and suture erosion at the vaginal apex, were significantly higher in the PET suture group than in the PP suture group (46.3% vs 20.1%, p <.01). However, there was no significant difference in the rates of surgical failure (defined as the presence of vaginal bulging symptoms, apical descent ≥ half of the total vaginal length, anterior or posterior vaginal wall descent beyond the hymen, or retreatment for prolapse) between the 2 groups (p = .84). Compared with the use of multifilament PET sutures, the use of monofilament PP sutures in transvaginal USLS may reduce suture-related complications without increasing surgical failure rates.

Restricted Convalescence Following Urogynecologic Procedures: 1-Year Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Study.

To assess the relationship between postoperative activity recommendations and satisfaction and anatomic and functional outcomes 1 year after surgery for symptomatic prolapse. This is a planned secondary analysis reporting 1-year functional and anatomic outcomes of a multicenter, randomized, double-masked clinical trial "ReCOUP." In the original trial, women undergoing surgery for prolapse were randomized to liberal (no limitations on physical activity) or restricted (heavy lifting and high-impact activity prohibited) postoperative activity recommendations for 3 months after surgery. At 1 year, our primary outcome was satisfaction, assessed using a 5-point Likert scale answer to the question, "How satisfied are you with the result of your prolapse surgery?" Anatomic surgical failure was met if women had prolapse beyond the hymen, apical descent greater than one third the vaginal length, OR retreatment for prolapse. Of the 95 women (n = 45 liberal, n = 50 restricted) who were randomized and completed primary 3-month outcomes, 83 (87%) completed a functional assessment, and 77 (81%) completed both functional and anatomic assessment at 1 year. Satisfaction with surgery remained high (91.5%) with no differences between groups (86.8% vs 95.6% P = 0.155) as did anatomic and functional outcomes. There were 7.8% women who met criteria for anatomic surgical failure with no difference between the restricted (7.0%) and liberal group (8.8%). Three women (2 in the restricted group, 1 in the liberal group) with recurrent prolapse and underwent surgery. There were no significant differences in anatomic and functional outcomes at 12 months after surgery in women who resume postoperative activity liberally and those who restrict postoperative activity.

Methods for the defining mechanisms of anterior vaginal wall descent (DEMAND) study.

The protocol and analysis methods for the Defining Mechanisms of Anterior Vaginal Wall Descent (DEMAND) study are presented. DEMAND was designed to identify mechanisms and contributors of prolapse recurrence after two transvaginal apical suspension procedures for uterovaginal prolapse. DEMAND is a supplementary cohort study of a clinical trial in which women with uterovaginal prolapse randomized to (1) vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension or (2) vaginal mesh hysteropexy underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 30-42months post-surgery. Standardized protocols have been developed to systematize MRI examinations across multiple sites and to improve reliability of MRI measurements. Anatomical failure, based on MRI, is defined as prolapse beyond the hymen. Anatomic measures from co-registered rest, maximal strain, and post-strain rest (recovery) sequences are obtained from the "true mid-sagittal" plane defined by a 3D pelvic coordinate system. The primary outcome is the mechanism of failure (apical descent versus anterior vaginal wall elongation). Secondary outcomes include displacement of the vaginal apex and perineal body and elongation of the anterior wall, posterior wall, perimeter, and introitus of the vagina between (1) rest and strain and (2) rest and recovery. Recruitment and MRI trials of 94 participants were completed by May 2018. Methods papers which detail studies designed to evaluate anatomic outcomes of prolapse surgeries are few. We describe a systematic, standardized approach to define and quantitatively assess mechanisms of anatomic failure following prolapse repair. This study will provide a better understanding of how apical prolapse repairs fail anatomically.

Vaginal intraperitoneal versus extraperitoneal uterosacral ligament vault suspensions: a comparison of a standard and novel approach

Uterosacral ligament suspension surgery is commonly utilized to correct post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse (VVP). Vaginal intraperitoneal uterosacral vault suspension (IUSVS) is a viable option, but intraperitoneal access can be challenging. An alternative approach is an extraperitoneal uterosacral vault suspension (EUSVS). The aim of our study was to compare surgical outcomes of IUSVS and EUSVS in patients with post-hysterectomy VVP. Retrospective cohort study of women who underwent treatment of post-hysterectomy VVP with an IUSVS and EUSVS from May 2016 to January 2019 at our institution. The primary outcome was surgical success that was assessed by a composite outcome for surgical failure, defined as ANY of the following: (1) apical descent > 1/3 of the TVL or anterior or posterior vaginal wall beyond the hymen, (2) retreatment of prolapse, or (3) bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms with a positive response to either of two questions on the PFDI questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included EBL, operative time, duration of hospitalization, and perioperative complications. Two-sample t-tests and chi-square tests were used for the bivariate analysis. Eighty patients were included (36 IUSVS and 44 EUSVS) with a mean follow-up of 7months. For our primary outcome, there was no difference in surgical success (IUSVS group 72.22% vs. EUSVS group 81.82%, p = 0.307). Operative time, duration of hospitalization, and EBL were significantly less in the EUSVS group than in the IUSVS group. EUSVS demonstrated similar short-term success compared to IUSVS for post-hysterectomy VVP, with shorter operative time, EBL, and length of stay.

Long-term outcomes after sacrocolpopexy with or without transobturator tape.

The aim of this study was to report the long-term outcomes after sacrocolpopexy (SCP) with or without transobturator tape (TOT). We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a prospective, observational study comparing urinary outcomes in women who underwent SCP with or without TOT based on the results of a prolapse-reduction stress test. Patients were enrolled between November 2008 and December 2011 and were followed up 5years after surgery. The primary outcomes were 5-year success rates for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. SUI success was defined as a negative cough stress test, no bothersome SUI symptoms, and no additional anti-incontinence surgery. POP success was defined as no vaginal bulge symptoms, no apical descent greater than one-third of the total vaginal length or anterior or posterior vaginal wall prolapse beyond the hymen, and no retreatment for prolapse. Of 240 women enrolled, 175 (73%) completed 5years of follow-up. The estimated SUI success rate was 91.1% in the TOT group and 56.5% in the no TOT group (difference, 34.6%; 95% confidence interval, 24.1 to 45.1). The estimated POP success rate was 90.0% in the TOT group and 92.9% in the no TOT group (difference, -2.9%; 95% confidence interval, -10.7 to 4.9). The advantage of concomitant TOT for SUI after SCP that was seen at 2years remained at 5years. Long-term POP failure rates after SCP are low and not affected by concomitant TOT.

Outcomes of native tissue transvaginal apical approaches in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

Limited data exist comparing different surgical approaches in women with advanced vaginal prolapse. This study compared 2-year surgical outcomes of uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) and sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) in women with advanced prolapse (stage III-IV) and stress urinary incontinence. This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter 2 × 2 factorial randomized trial comparing (1) ULS versus SSLF and (2) behavioral therapy with pelvic floor muscle training versus usual care. Of 374 subjects, 117/188 (62.7%) in the ULS and 113/186 (60.7%) in the SSLF group had advanced prolapse. Two-year surgical success was defined by the absence of (1) apical descent > 1/3 into the vaginal canal, (2) anterior/posterior wall descent beyond the hymen, (3) bothersome bulge symptoms, and (4) retreatment for prolapse. Secondary outcomes included individual success outcome components, symptom severity measured by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory, and adverse events. Outcomes were also compared in women with advanced prolapse versus stage II prolapse. Success did not differ between groups (ULS: 58.2% [57/117] versus SSLF: 58.5% [55/113], aOR 1.0 [0.5-1.8]). No differences were detected in individual success components (p > 0.05 for all components). Prolapse symptom severity scores improved in both interventions with no intergroup differences (p = 0.82). Serious adverse events did not differ (ULS: 19.7% versus SSLF: 16.8%, aOR 1.2 [0.6-2.4]). Success was lower in women with advanced prolapse compared with stage II (58.3% versus 73.2%, aOR 0.5 [0.3-0.9]), with no retreatment in stage II. Surgical success, symptom severity, and overall serious adverse events did not differ between ULS and SSLF in women with advanced prolapse. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01166373.

Long-Term Outcomes of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy Using Lightweight Y-Mesh

The objective of this study was to describe anatomic and symptomatic outcomes at 5 years or longer after robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy using very lightweight polypropylene Y-mesh. A prospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent surgery at a single center between 2007 and 2011 was performed. Patients consented to objective and subjective assessment at 5 years or longer postoperatively. Surgical success was defined as meeting all of the following: (1) no retreatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) since surgery, (2) no prolapse beyond the introitus, (3) no apical descent below -5, and (4) no prolapse symptoms reported. Secondary outcome measures included Sandvik Incontinence Severity Index, the PFDI-20, the PFIQ-7, the PISQ-12, and the SSQ-8), rates of dyspareunia, mesh complications, and subjects' need for any surgical or nonsurgical prolapse treatment since their index surgery. Eighty percent of the potential study group (253/316) presented for examination and subjective assessment at 5 years or longer after their index surgeries.The surgical success rate was 226 (89.3%) of 253 with no apical failures. Only 4.4% (11/253) of the group met both objective and subjective failure criteria. Sixteen patients were classified as surgical failure owing to subjective criteria alone despite having no significant objective prolapse on examination. Ten patients (4%) elected to undergo subsequent POP repair. These operations consisted of 5 native tissue anterior repairs and 5 native tissue posterior repairs. In addition, 1 patient elected to use a pessary for recurrent anterior POP. The remaining 16 patients who experienced surgical failure elected no further prolapse treatment. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy using very lightweight mesh provided excellent long-term results with no mesh-related complications.

Medium-term outcomes after robotic-assisted lateral suspension with mesh for advanced multi-compartmental prolapse

Introduction and hypothesisRobotic abdominal lateral suspension (RALS) is an innovative mini-invasive surgical technique that allows treating apical and anterior prolapse. The safety and efficacy of this strategy have not yet been tested.MethodsWe completed a prospective case series of 115 RALS to treat apical and anterior prolapse stage III or IV, with no or minimal (stage I) posterior defect. Clinical evaluation was performed with a simplified POP quantification system (POP-Q). Mean follow-up was 28 ± 4 months. Primary outcomes were objective and subjective cure; secondary outcomes were reoperation rate for recurrence, erosion rate and complications. Objective cure was defined as POP-Q ≤ 1. Subjective cure was defined as absence of vaginal bulge. Patient’s satisfaction was measured using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement Scale (PGI-I).ResultsThere was a significant improvement in POP-Q score in all treated compartments with an objective cure rate of 88.7% for the anterior and 93.1% for the apical compartment (p < 0.0001). Subjective cure rate was 82%. The emergence of de novo high rectoceles was not significant in the cohort, as much as the development of de novo stress or urge urinary incontinence. Reoperation rate for POP was 11.3% (8 recurrent cystoceles without apical descent and 5 apical and anterior relapses). No postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3a were seen. Mesh exposure rate was 0.9%; 58.2% patients compiled a PGI-I score at 18–24 months post-surgery, reporting high satisfaction rates.ConclusionsRALS is highly effective at a mid-term follow-up for the treatment of advanced apical and anterior POP.

Robotic Sacral Colpopexy with Fascia Lata for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Abstract Introduction: Robotic sacral colpopexy with mesh is a minimally invasive method to treat women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse with significant apical descent.1 There are concerns abo...