[Gynecological surgery using a transvaginal approach]

The vagina is a unique organ, directly abutting the peritoneal cavity but showing no visible scars after incision of the vaginal wall. Since 2003, we have performed ovarian cystectomy with a vaginal approach in 120 patients. To perform culdotomy without failure, we developed a new culdotomy technique with transvaginal ultrasound and an umbrella Hakko needle, which has potential applicability in transvaginal natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). All cystectomies were completed without conversion to laparotomy. Laparoscopy was required to complete cystectomy in 3% of cases. No major intraoperative complications, including rectal injury, occurred. Since 2009, we have started to use flexible endoscopy transvaginally. In 20 cases, this enabled us to observe or wash the intraperitoneal cavity and remove the cyst. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 73 patients with a mean age of 31.9 years who had undergone vaginal ovarian cystectomy more than 6 months previously. This questionnaire included questions about fertility, dyspareunia, and satisfaction after surgery, and 60% of patients returned completed questionnaires. The pregnancy rate among women younger than 30 years of age was 60%, and none developed permanent dyspareunia. The average patient satisfaction score was 4.12 (on a 5-point scale). Transvaginal ovarian surgery can be an alternative to laparoscopic surgery for patients who desire minimally invasive treatment, and transvaginal NOTES is expected to become the new model of minimally invasive surgery.