Laparoscopic repair of vaginal vault prolapse

Currently, the two laparoscopic techniques available and described in the literature for the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse are uterosacral ligament vault suspension and sacrocolpopexy. These two techniques are opposing each other fundamentally. While the first is reconstructive, the second is essentially palliative.

In both methods the surgeon starts with the identification and dissection of the pubocervical and rectovaginal fascia. In the first technique however, the new vaginal vault, made by re approximation of the two fasciae, is attached to the uterosacral complex, while in the second one, each fascia is suspended from the sacral promontorium, using a mesh. In review of the existing literature, it seems that the palliative surgical approach is more successful in the long term, giving a cure rate of approximately 92%, probably as it involves using mesh instead of the native tissue.

In this article we discuss the laparoscopic techniques available currently, analyse their results, discuss their differences and compare them with other non-laparoscopic techniques. Finally, we discuss the different options described, and offer some guidelines for the future of laparoscopic treatment of pelvic prolapse.