Application of "4-P" port anchoring in transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES):...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel surgical technique-4-P port anchoring-designed to enhance the success of robot-assisted transvaginal natural orifice procedures transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic hysterectomy (RA-vNOTES) in patients with benign gynecologic conditions. A total of 122 adult women who underwent RA-vNOTES hysterectomy using the 4-P port anchoring technique were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of the cohort was 39 years, and the median body mass index (BMI) was 26 kg/m², with 35 patients (28.7%) having a BMI greater than 30 kg/m². A total of 43 patients (35.2%) had a history of at least one vaginal delivery, and 98 patients (80.3%) had undergone at least one prior abdominal surgery. The median total operative time was 166 min, with a port placement time of 5 min. Perineal body suturing was necessary in five patients due to inadequate retention of the inner ring within the vaginal canal, resulting in partial displacement beyond the introitus. Four patients were because of pelvic organ prolapse. In one patient with a markedly enlarged genital hiatus, a suture was placed in the upper labia to secure the inner ring; however, gas leakage still occurred. This was the only case of gas leakage observed in the cohort. The 4-P anchoring technique offers a feasible and effective method for securing the inner ring during transvaginal NOTES procedures. It enhances surgical access and reduces the risk of complications related to port displacement and gas leakage. This technique represents a valuable advancement in the evolution of laparoscopic and robotic vNOTES.