Surgery for Anterior Compartment Prolapse Synthetic Graft-Augmented Repair

The role of hydrodissection in native tissue repair of anterior vaginal wall defects

AIMS

A variety of surgical techniques are available for vaginal prolapse repair, indicating a lack of consensus. A debate regarding the utility of hydrodissection for splitting the surgical plane of the vaginal wall exists. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of hydrodissection in anterior colporrhaphy (AC).

MATERIALS

Patients undergoing primary AC were randomly assigned to an approach with (study group) versus without (control group) hydrodissection. Five surgeons performed both techniques, and the trimmed vaginal tissue was retrieved for histological analysis. Two pathologists, blinded to the surgical approach, evaluated the presence of a loose connective tissue at the surgical dissection plane (controversially deemed 'fascia', as explained in this article). In addition, we compared the operative time, pain score and haemoglobin levels. After statistical analysis, data were presented using percentile, and statistical significance was tested using the χ² and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients underwent primary elective AC, with 23 patients in each, the study and control groups. The groups were comparable regarding age (study group 60.33 ± 11.95 years and control group 59.86 ± 12.04, P = 0.90), menopausal status (study group 17 (73.9%) and control group 15 (68.2%), P = 0.67) and other characteristics. We found no difference in sample characteristics between the two groups. Connective tissue was found in only 13.6% (n = 3) of patients after hydrodissection and in 27.3% (n = 6) of patients without hydrodissection (P = 0.46). The hydrodissection group had significantly less bleeding than the control group (ΔHB 0.66 ± 0.66 vs 1.21 ± 0.84, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

After hydrodissection, less bleeding was noted without compromise the surgical planes.

Anatomical and functional outcomes of uterus preservation and pelvic organ prolapse repair with vaginal trocar-less mesh kit (Endofast): A retrospective study of 239 patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess safety and long term efficacy as well as short and long term complications of vaginal prolapse mesh repair using single incision trocar-less system while preserving the uterus.

STUDY DESIGN

A single-center, retrospective cohort study including all patients who underwent vaginal prolapse mesh repaier surgery with EndoFast Reliant™ kit between October 2010 and January 2015. Outcomes included anatomical changes (POP-Q), overactive bladder symptoms (OAB) stress urinary incontinence (SUI), sexual function and constipation as well as the rate of surgical failure, immediate and long-term complications.

RESULTS

239 women, with an average follow-up period of 1.7 years (range: 6 weeks to 7 years), were included. Uterus was preserved in 87 % of patients (184 out of 211 patients with intact uterus) and concurrent surgery for SUI was performed in 46 %. POP-Q significantly improved as well as OAB and SUI symptoms and remained without significant change during follow-up period. In 11 patients (4.6 %) a new/recurrent prolapse was observed during the follow up period. Immediate complications occurred in 4 patients. One case of bladder perforation, one case of mesh contamination, 2 cases of urinary retention, one of them permanent. Late complications included mesh erosion, de novo dyspareunia, cervical elongation and de-novo SUI, and were observed in 38 cases (16 %). Surgical intervention was required in 20 (8.4 %) cases; 10 cases of de-novo SUI, 2 cases of partial mesh removal because of dyspareunia, 1 case of mid urethral sling removal because of erosion and 7 cases of cervical amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

Repair of prolapse with vaginal trocar-less mesh kit while preserving the uterus for the majoroty of women, is a relatively safe and effective surgery,with a low incidence of complications and re-operation rate which was mainly for de novo SUI or elongation of cervix. Randomiesed prospective long term studies are neaded to establish the results.