Combined sacrospinous hysteropexy and cystopexy using a single anterior incision

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of a minimally invasive vaginal approach for treating advanced utero-vaginal prolapse.

A prospective study enrolled consecutive patients attending the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Turin University for treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage III of higher symptomatic utero-vaginal prolapse between February 1, 2013 and November 30, 2014. Participants underwent a combined sacrospinous hysteropexy and cystopexy procedure using a single anterior vaginal incision. Surgical procedures were performed by one of two surgeons, either an experienced senior surgeon or a resident surgeon under supervision. POP-Q staging, patient symptoms, and quality of life were evaluated before and after surgery.

The present study enrolled 42 patients and 19 (45%) were discharged on the first post-operative day. The mean operating time was 40.5±10.6minutes and there was no significant difference in operating time between the two surgeons. With an average follow-up duration of 13months, significant post-surgical improvements were recorded across both POP-Q anterior (P<0.001) and apical (P<0.001) domains, and in both prolapse impact (P<0.001) and urinary impact (P=0.001) quality-of-life measures; one apical recurrence and no major complications were recorded.

Combined sacrospinous hysteropexy and cystopexy through a single incision appears to be a safe and efficacious procedure that was relatively easy for surgeons to learn and resulted in a fast post-surgical recovery.