[From the open approach to laparoscopy. Background, rationale, technique]

Genital prolapse is a frequent functional pathology in women. Its surgical treatment depends specially upon the suspension and fixation of the vaginal vault. Thus, sacrocolpopexy has become a gold standard technique to correct genital prolapse. Laparoscopy is a procedure resulting in less bleeding and decreased hospital stay than open sacrocolpopexy and is presently the approach of choice. Its objective and subjective correction rates are > 90%. Some authors proposed a dual abdominal and perineal approach to help fixing the posterior mesh and repairing the perineal body. Robotics is the actual surgeons' gadget.Its results are similar to laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy albeit a higher cost and a longer operating time. The ideal mesh is monofilamentous with large pores. Sacrocolpopexy consists in fixing two meshes, one on the anterior vaginal wall and one on the posterior vaginal wall, on the anterior sacral ligament, without tension for the posterior mesh, with or without subtotal hysterectomy, and with closure of the peritoneum at the end. In the case of associated stress urinary incontinence, proved on the clinical exam or urodynamical exam, appropriate surgical treatment is done with sacrocolpopexy. In the near future, robotics will replace laparoscopy when costs will be reduced and medical staff well trained to perform robotic or robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy.