Single-port laparoscopy-assisted vaginal repair of a cesarean scar defect: a single-center retrospective study

The incidence of uterine cesarean scar defect (niche) is high, and some patients require surgery. Single-port laparoscopy can reduce post-operative pain, and provide better cosmetic effects. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and superiority of single-port laparoscopy-assisted vaginal repair of uterine cesarean scar defect (niche) in women after cesarean section.

This study included 74 patients who were diagnosed with uterine cesarean niche at the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital from January 2013 to June 2015. Thirty-seven patients underwent single-port laparoscopy-assisted vaginal surgery as the case group, and the remaining patients underwent vaginal repair surgery as the control group. We collected data from the inpatient and follow-up medical records. The clinical characteristics of these two groups were compared. The odds ratios and 95% confidential intervals were calculated for each variable by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Patients who underwent single-port laparoscopy-assisted vaginal repair had a significantly longer operation time (2.3 [2.0-2.7] vs. 2.0 [1.6-2.3] h, P = 0.015), shorter gas passage time (1.2 [1.0-1.5] vs. 1.7 [1.0-2.0] days, P = 0.012), shorter hospital stay (3.1 [3.0-4.0] vs. 4.5 [4.0-6.0] days, P = 0.019), and fewer complications (0 vs. 4 cases). Univariate analysis showed that depth of the niche (P = 0.021) the mild adhesiolysis score (P = 0.035) and moderate adhesiolysis score (P = 0.013) were associated with the bladder injury. Multivariate analysis showed that the moderate adhesiolysis score (P = 0.029; 95% confidence interval, 1.318-3.526) was the strongest independent predictor of bladder injury.

This study confirmed the safety and superiority of single-port laparoscopy-assisted vaginal repair of uterine cesarean scars.