Route of Hysterectomy at the Time of Sacrocolpopexy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

This study aimed to compare the incidence of mesh exposure based on route of hysterectomy at the time of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Secondary outcomes included perioperative outcomes and prolapse recurrence.

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent sacrocolpopexy between 2007 and 2017 were stratified by hysterectomy approach: total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), total laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy (TLH), and laparoscopic or robotic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). Total vaginal hysterectomy was subdivided into vaginal and laparoscopic mesh attachment to the cuff. Statistical analyses were performed, with P < 0.05 denoting statistical significance.

Seven institutions participated, and 502 minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies with concomitant hysterectomy were performed by 23 surgeons: 263 TVH, 128 TLH, and 111 LSH. The median follow-up interval was 10 months, and this was significantly different between the groups (months): TVH, 11 (3-13); TLH, 2 (2-9); and LSH, 12 (5-24; P < 0.01). The overall incidence of vaginal mesh exposure was 4.0% (20/502). There were no significant differences in vaginal mesh exposure based on hysterectomy route: TVH, 5.7% (15/263); TLH, 1.6% (2/128); and LSH, 2.7% (3/111; P = 0.11). Within the TVH group, there was no significant difference in vaginal mesh exposure comparing vaginal and laparoscopic mesh attachment: 1.9% (1/52) versus 6.6% (14/211; P = 0.48). Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of recurrence compared with TVH and TLH: 10.8% (12/111) versus 3.4% (9/263) and 2.3% (3/128; P < 0.01).

The incidence of sacrocolpopexy mesh exposure was not significantly different based on route of hysterectomy or mode of mesh attachment to the vagina. There was a significant increase in prolapse recurrence with supracervical hysterectomy.