Conventional laparoscopic and robotic sacrocolpopexy: tips and tricks

The demand for surgical correction of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse has significantly increased as the general population has aged. In the modern era, patients with bothersome prolapse desire durable corrective surgery that offers tangible improvement in quality of life and is associated with minimal morbidity. Open abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) had long been considered the "gold standard" approach to achieve these reconstructive goals but was construed as being overly invasive with prolonged recovery and unacceptable pain. Transvaginal approaches were favored as a less invasive alternative, but durability and the more recent climate of fear engendered by mesh complications has made many surgeons and patients averse to these procedures. Improved laparoscopic dexterity and experience has led to renewed interest in ASC. Laparoscopic ASC achieves the aforementioned reconstructive goals but with decreased pain and faster recovery inherent to minimally invasive surgery. More recently, the widespread advent and adoption of robotics has made minimally invasive ASC more accessible to surgeons through its enabling technology. This article will review our team's robust experience with laparoscopic and robotic ASC with a focus on our patient evaluation, consent process, and our tips and tricks gained through experience.