Medium- to long-term outcomes of vaginally assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in the treatment of stage III-IV pelvic organ prolapse.

Vaginally assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (VALS) refers to the placement of synthetic meshes through the vagina in addition to traditional laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the medium- to long-term efficacy and safety of VALS for treating stage III-IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

The study was designed as a case series at a single center. Patients with stage III-IV POP in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2018 were included. Perioperative parameters, objective and subjective outcomes, and complications were assessed.

A total of 106 patients completed the follow-up and were included in our study. Within a median follow-up duration of 35.4 months, the objective cure ratio of VALS reached 92.45% (98/106), and the subjective success rate was 99.06% (105/106). Patients reported significant improvements in subjective symptoms. In eight patients suffering anatomic prolapse recurrence, two posterior POP cases were treated by posterior pelvic reconstruction surgery, while six anterior POP cases did not need surgical therapies. The reoperation rate was 1.89% (2/106). No intraoperative complications occurred. Three patients (2.83%) had postoperative fever, and one (0.94%) had wound infection during hospitalization. Six patients (5.66%) had mesh exposure on the vaginal wall, and de novo urinary incontinence occurred in two patients (1.89%) during the follow-up period.

VALS is an effective and safe surgical method for treating severe POP. Therefore, VALS should be considered in the treatment of severe POP due to its favorable subjective and objective outcomes, relatively low rate of infection and acceptable rate of mesh exposure.

BMC women's health. 2022 Dec 07*** epublish ***

Tuo Deng, Su Wang, Xuezao Liang, Liquan Chen, Yanli Wen, Xiaowei Zhang, Lizhen Xu

Female Pelvic Floor Unit, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Kangda Road 1#, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 510230, Guangdong, China., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China., Female Pelvic Floor Unit, Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Kangda Road 1#, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 510230, Guangdong, China. .