Hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery versus laparoscopy as a day‐care procedure: a randomised controlled trial

Epigastric Ventral Hernia Repair Through Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery

OBJECTIVE

Ventral hernia repair is a commonly performed operation and can be executed by open or laparoscopic approach. The search for even less invasive techniques continues. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a known method of minimally invasive surgery.

METHODS

We performed an epigastric ventral hernia repair through vaginal NOTES during a concurrent hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. We used the access to do a synchronous hernia repair with mesh augmentation. The technique of repair was identical to the laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair (Lap. IPOM).

RESULTS

We reported a sufficient hernia repair without intra-operative complications. Also, post-operatively, no problems were encountered. Follow-up after 4 weeks showed a good and strong hernia repair. The complaints of the patient were relieved. CT scan 10 months after operation showed no recurrence nor signs of mesh infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Ventral hernia repair through vaginal NOTES can be considered a possible new and minimal invasive (scarless) technique for ventral hernia repair but further investigations on a larger scale are needed to confirm feasibility & safety.

Early surgical outcomes of 550 consecutive patients treated for benign gynecological conditions by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

INTRODUCTION

Evidence about intra- and postoperative complication rates related to transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for benign gynecological conditions is still limited. We report and analyze data from a large cohort of patients operated in a single institution during 3.5 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of vNOTES for benign gynecological indications, we performed a single-center observational study reporting and analyzing perioperative outcomes of 550 consecutive patients operated between 2020 and 2024.

RESULTS

Of the 550 included patients, 365 (66.4%) underwent a vNOTES hysterectomy, 167 (30.4%) a procedure limited to the adnexa, and 18 (3.3%) other interventions, including myomectomy, pelvic adhesiolysis, post-hysterectomy pelvic hematoma drainage, pelvic organ prolapse repair, and appendectomy. The mean age was 49.4 ± 12.2 years, and the mean BMI was 26.2 ± 5.8 kg/m2. The total complication rate was 6.5% (36 cases), of which 2.7% (15 cases) were intraoperative complications and 4.0% (22 cases) were postoperative complications. Patients presented postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo (CD) grade I in 4 cases (0.7%), grade II in 10 cases (1.8%), and grade III in 8 cases (1.5%). We observed no CD grade IV and V complications. Three patients (0.5%) were rehospitalized for postoperative complications management. The conversion rate was 1.6%, with nine cases of conversion to conventional laparoscopy and none to laparotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of vNOTES appears safe and feasible for most benign gynecological surgeries. Our study focused on surgical complications and demonstrated a profile similar to those reported in previous studies.

Conventional vaginal approach vs. transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for treating apical prolapse, a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal hysterectomy combined with uterosacral suspension (USLS) is a technique for treating pelvic organ prolapse. Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been described as an alternative minimal invasive approachfor treating various gynecological and non-gynecological pathologies. The aim was to compare the surgical time between conventional vaginal hysterectomy combined with USLS and vNOTES hysterectomy combined with USLS.

STUDY DESIGN

Multi-center randomized controlled trial performed 2019-2021 at Rambam Health Care Campus (Israel) and Imelda Hospital (Belgium). Thirty women underwent vNOTES procedures and 30 women underwent conventional vaginal procedures. The primary outcome was total surgical time. Secondary outcomes included hysterectomy time, USLS time, intraoperative bleeding, length of hospitalization, pain during the first 24 h postoperative, the need of analgesia, intraoperative and postoperative adverse events, and patient-reported outcomes questionnaires. Parametric statistical methods were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Compared to conventional vaginal procedures, vNOTES procedures were shorter in total surgical time (77 vs. 93 min, p = 0.004), hysterectomy time (26 vs 33 min, p < 0.001), and USLS time (20 vs 26 min. p = 0.02). Blood loss was higher in conventional vaginal compared to vNOTES surgery, as reflected by the mean blood loss estimate (143 vs 60 ml. p < 0.001) and the delta-hemoglobin (pre-operation minus the post-operation hemoglobin level (1.8 vs 1.2 ml/dL, p = 0.01). There was no difference between the groups regarding analgesics used, postoperative pain, surgical objective outcomes, and scores on patient-reported outcomes questionnaires. Adverse events were significantly more frequent in the conventional vaginal group than in the vNOTES group (p < 0.001 for intraoperative events and p = 0.05 for events that occurred in the follow-up time interval).

CONCLUSION

vNOTES hysterectomy with USLS has lower surgical times than conventional vaginal hysterectomy with USLS, lower blood loss and less adverse events. Other surgical objective and subjective outcomes were similar between the approaches.

Comparison of different types of single-port laparoscopic surgery in posterior uterine fibroid resection

This study aims to objectively assess the effect of three surgical approaches for posterior uterine fibroid resection: transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in prone position (vNOTES-P), and vNOTES in the lithotomy position (vNOTES-L). A retrospective analysis was conducted on data pertaining to all patients who underwent vNOTES and LESS for single posterior fibroids at our institution from January 2023 to July 2023. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the surgical approach: vNOTES-P group (n = 30), vNOTES-L group (n = 17), and LESS group (n = 32). Comparative analysis was performed on the demographic characteristics and perioperative outcomes among the three groups of patients. All 79 patients underwent surgery without the need for conversion to laparotomy. There were no statistically significant differences among the LESS group, vNOTES-P group, and vNOTES-L group in terms of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complication rates. In the vNOTES-L group, two patients required conversion to LESS during surgery. Patients had faster return of bowel function (less time to flatus) in the vNOTES group compared to the LESS group (P < 0.05). However, three cases of postoperative infection occurred in the vNOTES group, while none were reported in the LESS group. Compared to LESS, vNOTES demonstrates significant advantages in alleviating postoperative pain, shortening time to passage of flatus, speeding recovery and enhancing cosmetic outcomes. Particularly, vNOTES-P for posterior uterine fibroid resection, as an emerging surgical approach, offers certain advantages in facilitating surgical maneuverability and reducing operative time, rendering it more suitable for posterior uterine fibroid resection.

Comparison of laparoscopy and vNOTES in early-stage endometrial cancer

AIM

To compare the demographic, clinical, surgical, histopathological, and oncological outcomes of vNOTES and conventional laparoscopy (CL)for early-stage endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out in the Gynecologic Clinic of a tertiary hospital from January 2019 to November 2020. Patient demographic characteristics, surgical outcomes, histopathological characteristics, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at postoperative 6th, 12th, and 24th, intra- and postoperative complications, and follow-up results were noted.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients enrolled, of which 16 underwent CL and 29 were vNOTES. The operative time and decrease in hemoglobin levels were similar for both groups (p = 0.202, p = 0.699). Postoperative hospital stay did not differ between the vNOTES group and the CL group (p = 0.549). VAS pain scores at postoperative 6th, 12th, and 24th h were significantly lower in vNOTES group than in the CL group (p < 0.001). The requirement for additional opioid/narcotic analgesic was lower in the vNOTES group than in the CL group (p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

vNOTES may be a safe and feasible option in early-stage endometrial cancer, having less postoperative pain and less requirement of opioid/narcotic analgesic compared with laparoscopy.

Vaginal assisted NOTES hysterectomy in The Netherlands; A prospective cohort study

Objectives

Vaginal assisted Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) combines the benefits of vaginal and endoscopic surgery. This study presents the results of the first vaginal assisted NOTES hysterectomies (VANH) in The Netherlands.

Study design

A prospective cohort study was performed in two non-academic teaching hospitals in The Netherlands. Data was collected from patients who underwent a VANH for benign indications between August 2019 and April 2023. Baseline characteristics and data of intra- and postoperative surgical outcomes were recorded and analysed. The VANHs were performed by four experienced vaginal and endoscopic gynaecological surgeons.

Results

A total of 200 patients underwent a VANH. Indications were dysfunctional menstrual bleeding (61 %; n = 122), abnormal cervical cytology (15.5 %; n = 31), abdominal pain (11.5 %; n = 23), post ablation/sterilization pain syndrome (3.5 %; n = 7), uterine fibroids (5.0 %; n = 10), atypical endometrial hyperplasia (2.5 %; n = 5) and Lynch or BRCA gene mutation carriers (1.0 %, n = 2). The mean surgical time was 61.4 min ( ± 22.8 min) with a mean blood loss of 88 mL ( ± 89 mL) and a mean uterine weight of 150 g ( ± 112 g). In 2.0 % (n = 4) of the cases a conversion was necessary. Same day discharge (SDD) was feasible in 80.2 % (n = 105) of the patients planned in day-care. In 2.0 % (n = 4) an intra-operative complication and in 9.0 % (n = 18) a post-operative complication occurred.

Conclusion

This study shows vNOTES to be a safe and feasible surgical technique and can be safely implemented with appropriate patient selection and skilled surgeons. It highlights the importance of surgeon awareness of the challenges inherent in the initial stages of the implementation of a new surgical technique when performing their first vNOTES procedures. Additional randomized clinical trials are needed to show superiority of vNOTES compared to traditional surgery.

Health-related quality of life following hysterectomy by vNOTES versus conventional laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate safety, efficacy, pre- and postoperative outcomes of vNOTES hysterectomy compared to conventional laparoscopic (CL) hysterectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective study was conducted on patients who underwent CL or vNOTES hysterectomy for benign gynecological indications between January and July 2021. Sociodemographic, clinical, and surgical data were collected. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes were evaluated using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 228 patients (CL vs. vNOTES: 147 vs. 81) were included. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of blood loss, uterine weight, complications, length of hospital stay, and readmission rate. Patients in the vNOTES group experienced significantly less postoperative pain and required less analgesia compared to those who underwent CL hysterectomy (p < 0.001). The CL group had a shorter operative time (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the EQ-5D-5L pain/discomfort dimension (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

This research showed that vNOTES has various advantages, such as less postoperative pain, reduced analgesic usage, and better HRQoL outcomes three months after surgery.

Adoption of vaginally assisted natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for hysterectomy: A single tertiary experience

BACKGROUND

Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) rate is declining despite being considered as the optimal minimally invasive option for hysterectomy with reduced operative time and length of stay compared with laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH). Vaginal assisted natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery hysterectomy (VANH) combines the advantages of both vaginal and endoscopic approach to surgery.

AIMS

To report feasibility and early experience of a single surgeon adopting VANH at a tertiary Australian hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective review of the first 20 VANH cases with complete data set collected retrospectively including patient demographics, indication for surgery and perioperative outcomes.

RESULTS

The median age of the first 20 participants was 51.5 years (47-57 years of age) and the median body mass index was 33.5 kg/m2 (27.8-38.3 kg/m2). The predominant indication was complex hyperplasia with atypia (12/20, 60%). The median parity was two (1-3) where four patients were nulliparous. The median blood loss was 125 mL (100-200 mL) with an operative time of 149 min (138-198 min) and median weight of the specimen of 181.5 g (66.5-219 g). The mean length of stay was 1.4 days (1-2 days). Five cases had conversion to laparoscopy and the majority (80%) occurred within the first ten cases.

CONCLUSIONS

VANH is feasible but there is a learning curve to achieve competence in this technique, which requires adequate training in the early stages of adoption with careful case selection. Until further robust data is available to determine the clinical benefit and safety profile of VANH, patients should be carefully counselled and the decision on mode of hysterectomy be individualised.

vNOTES retroperitoneal sentinel lymph node dissection for endometrial cancer staging: First multicenter, prospective case series

INTRODUCTION

The current standard treatment for endometrial cancer is a laparoscopic hysterectomy with adnexectomies and bilateral sentinel node resection. A retroperitoneal vNOTES sentinel node resection has several theoretical potential advantages. These include being less invasive, leaving no visible scars, operating without Trendelenburg, and therefore offering the anesthetic advantage of easier ventilation in obese patients and following the natural lymph node trajectory from caudally to cranially and therefore a lower risk of missing the sentinel node. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a retroperitoneal vNOTES approach to sentinel lymph node dissection for staging of endometrial cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective multicenter case series was performed in four hospitals. A total of 64 women with early-stage endometrial carcinoma suitable for surgical staging with sentinel lymph node removal were operated via a transvaginal retroperitoneal vNOTES approach. The paravesical space was entered through a vaginal incision after injecting the cervix with indocyanine green. A vNOTES port was placed into this space and insufflation of the retroperitoneum was performed. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified bilaterally using near-infrared light followed by endoscopic removal of these nodes.

RESULTS

A total of 64 women with early-stage endometrial cancer underwent sentinel lymph node removal by retroperitoneal vNOTES technique. All patients also underwent subsequent vNOTES hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The median age was 69.5 years, median total operative time was 126 min and the median estimated blood loss was 80 mL. In 97% of the cases bilateral sentinel nodes could be identified. A total of 60 patients had negative sentinel nodes, three had isolated tumor cells and one had macroscopically positive sentinel nodes. No complications with sequel occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective multicenter case series demonstrates the feasibility of the vNOTES approach for identifying and removing sentinel lymph nodes in women with endometrial carcinoma successfully and safely. vNOTES allows sole transvaginal access with exposure of the entire retroperitoneal space, following the natural lymph trajectory caudally to cranially, and without the need for a Trendelenburg position.

No mess with mesh; vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) autologous posterior rectus fascia mesh for vaginal urinary incontinence procedures

Urinary incontinence affects 25-45 % of women with the gold standard surgical approach being placement of mid-urethral synthetic slings; tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and trans-obturator tape (TOT). Due to the controversies regarding vaginal mesh the last decade, an increasing demand has evolved for incontinence treatment without vaginal synthetic mesh. The short term results of autologous rectus fascia sling for TOT surgery have shown similar success rates compared to those after the use of synthetic mesh, but the harvesting of the mesh is less minimally invasive and is associated with longer surgical time. vNOTES is a combination of a vaginal entrance to the abdomen and endoscopy via the vagina. The aim with the video is to show a new surgical technique with a fully vaginal, scarless vNOTES approach for harvesting the posterior rectus fascia for TVT and TOT procedures.

Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping by Retroperitoneal vNOTES for Uterus-Confined Malignancies: A Standardized 10-Step Approach

(1) Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping represents an accurate and feasible technique for the surgical staging of endometrial and cervical cancer. This is commonly performed by conventional laparoscopy or robotic-assisted laparoscopy, but in recent years, a new retroperitoneal transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) approach has been described and developed by Jan Baekelandt. This technique provides easy visualization of lymphatic afferent vessels and pelvic lymph nodes, early SLN assessment, and a coherent mapping methodology following the lymphatic flow from caudal to cranial. However, only a few publications have reported it. Following the IDEAL (Idea Development Exploration Assessment Long-term follow-up) framework, research concerning this technique is in Stage 2a, with only small case series as evidence of its feasibility. Its standardized description appears necessary to provide the surgical homogeneity required to move further. (2) Methods: Description of a standardized approach for retroperitoneal pelvic SLN mapping by vNOTES. (3) Results: We describe a 10-step approach to successfully perform retroperitoneal vNOTES SLN mapping, including pre-, intra-, and postoperative management. (4) Conclusions: This IDEAL Stage 2a study could help other surgeons approach this new technique, and it proposes a common methodology necessary for evolving through future IDEAL Stage 2b (multi-center studies) and Stage 3 (randomized controlled trials) studies.

Perioperative outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in hysterectomy: A comparative study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign gynecologic diseases using transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) or transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (TU-LESS).

METHODS

A total of 314 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign uterine disease at West China Second University Hospital between October 2018 and December 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study. vNOTES (n = 157) and TU-LESS (n = 157) recipients were matched 1:1 in terms of uterine volume. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative decrease in hemoglobin, uterus weight, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain score at 12 h, postoperative indwelling catheter time, and other clinical indicators were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All 314 patients successfully completed the surgery, and the two groups had similar baseline characteristics, with no statistical difference. Regarding intraoperative outcomes, the operation time was shorter in the vNOTES group than in the TU-LESS group (80 vs 100 min, P = 0.04), and there were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion rate, postoperative decrease in hemoglobin, or uterine weight. Concerning postoperative outcomes, vNOTES hysterectomy was significantly superior to TU-LESS hysterectomy in terms of the length of hospital stay (3 vs 4 days, P < 0.001), visual analog scale score for pain at 12 h after surgery (P = 0.04), postoperative indwelling catheter time (39.5 vs 64.0 h, P < 0.001), and postoperative exhaust time (24.0 vs 42.0 h, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

vNOTES and TU-LESS seem safe and feasible for hysterectomy, but vNOTES hysterectomy was more conducive to the postoperative rehabilitation of patients, with less trauma, less pain, and better cosmetic effects than TU-LESS hysterectomy. As an emerging surgical approach, more studies, including large-sample, multicenter, randomized controlled trials, are needed to validate our findings.

Retrospective analysis between total laparoscopic and vNOTES hysterectomy in obese patients: single-center study

INTRODUCTION

Hysterectomy is one of the most common major gynecological surgeries, and it is performed for benign and malignant reasons. Currently, five types of hysterectomies are described: vaginal (VH), abdominal (AH), laparoscopic (LH), robotic, and vNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery). This paper compares these two types of surgery in obese patients by analyzing the surgeries performed by our team.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted from January 2022 to December 2023 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the General Hospital in Zadar. The study included female patients aged 18-75 years with a BMI > 30 kg/m2, regardless of parity, who were operated on for benign pathology.

RESULTS

There were 24 patients included in total. One conversion was observed in the TLH group because of excessive bleeding. Median operative time (IQR) was significantly lower in the vNOTES group (p < 0.05) than in the TLH group 35 (10.9) vs 125 (74.0) min.

CONCLUSION

The results concerning the duration of surgery, conversion rate, and postoperative bleeding and complications show that vNOTES hysterectomies seem to be feasible for obese patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Total vNOTES hysterectomy versus conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy in virgin transgender men

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Comparison of the applicability, safety, and surgical outcomes of total vaginal NOTES hysterectomy (TVNH) using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, which is considered a natural orifice surgery for hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (HBSO) in virgin transgender men, with conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2019 and 2021. The results of transgender male individuals who underwent HBSO operations using TVNH (n = 21) were compared with those who underwent operations using TLH (n = 62).

RESULTS

TVNH was performed in 21 individuals, while TLH was performed in 62 individuals. Patients in the TVNH approach group had a longer operation duration than those in the TLH group (p = .001). Patients in the TVNH group experienced less pain at two hours (5 ± 1.56), six hours (4 ± 1.57), 12 h (2 ± 0.91), and 24 h (1 ± 0.62) postoperatively (p = .001). The postoperative hospitalization duration was shorter in the TVNH group (1.6 ± 1.01) than in the TLH group (2.9 ± 0.5) (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

For the HBSO operation of female-to-male transgender individuals, TVNH, which is completely endoscopically performed, can be preferred and safely conducted as an alternative surgical method to conventional laparoscopy.

Discharge within 24 h, transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery- more suitable for ambulatory surgery in gynecology procedures: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an achievement in the field of minimally invasive surgery. However, the vantage point of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in gynecologicalprocedures remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to compare vNOTES with laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery, and to determine which procedure is more suitable for ambulatory surgery in gynecologic procedures.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital. The 207 enrolled patients had accepted vNOTES and laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery in gynecology procedures from February 2021 to March 2022. Surgically relevant information regarding patients who underwent ambulatory surgery was collected, and 64 females underwent vNOTES.

RESULTS

Multiple outcomes were analyzed in 207 patients. The Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences between the vNOTES and laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery groups in terms of postoperative pain score (0 vs. 1 scores, p = 0.026), duration of anesthesia (90 vs. 101 min, p = 0.025), surgery time (65 vs. 80 min, p = 0.015), estimated blood loss (20 vs. 40 mL, p < 0.001), and intestinal exhaustion time (12.20 vs. 17.14 h, p < 0.001). Treatment with vNOTES resulted in convenience, both with respect to time savings and hemorrhage volume in surgery and with respect to the quality of the prognosis.

CONCLUSION

These comprehensive data reveal the capacity of vNOTES to increase surgical efficiency. vNOTES in gynecological procedures may demonstrate sufficient feasibility and provide a new medical strategy compared with laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery for ambulatory surgery in gynecological procedures.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery hysterectomy versus vaginal hysterectomy for benign indications

Objective

As the second most common surgery performed on women in the United States, hysterectomy techniques are constantly examined for validity and superiority. The vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has increased in popularity since the first vNOTES hysterectomy was performed in 2012. We sought out to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hysterectomy by vNOTES compared to conventional vaginal hysterectomy for various benign indications.

Data sources

We searched Scopus, Medline, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.Gov, and the Cochrane Library. Our search included all studies from each respective database's inception until September 1, 2023.

Study eligibility criteria

We included eligible studies that compare vNOTES hysterectomy versus conventional vaginal hysterectomy for various benign indications, and included at least one of our preselected outcomes. The main outcomes were estimated blood loss (mL), operation time (min), length of hospital stay (d), Visual Analogue Scale pain score at Day 1, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications.

Study appraisal and synthesis methods

We analyzed data of our continuous outcomes using RevMan 5.4.1. Continuous outcomes were analyzed using mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) under the inverse variance analysis method. We assessed the quality of the studies using the ROBINS-I assessment tool.

Results

We found 4 eligible studies to include in our analysis. Surgeon declared estimated blood loss was found to be similar in both groups (MD=-44.70 [-99.97, 10.57]; P=.11). Also, the total length of hospital stay (in days) was found to be comparable in both groups (MD=-0.16 [-1.62, 1.30]; P=.83). We also found no other statistically significant difference between hysterectomy by vNOTES and vaginal hysterectomy in other studied outcomes, including the duration of the operation, the Visual Analogue Scale Pain score after 1 day, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications.

Conclusion

vNOTES seems to be associated with a nonsignificant lower surgeon declared estimated blood loss. We found no other significant differences in hospital stay, intraoperative, or postoperative outcomes. Further studies may clarify if other differences in safety or efficacy exist.

VaNoLaH trial: a study protocol-a multinational randomised controlled trial including two identical substudies comparing vaginal versus vNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal surgery) hysterectomy or laparoscopic versus vNOTES hysterectomy

INTRODUCTION

Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed in women. Minimally invasive methods are on the rise globally as they have been shown to decrease surgical morbidity compared with abdominal hysterectomy. Hysterectomy by vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is the latest innovation. It combines the vaginal approach and endoscopy via the vagina. Large pragmatic randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking comparing outcomes after vNOTES, vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH).

METHODS

Multicentre pragmatic RCT aiming to recruit 1000 women aged 18-75 years undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease. The RCT includes two identical substudies (groups A and B). If VH is considered safe and feasible, the patient will be randomised within group A (VH vs vNOTES). If VH is not considered safe or feasible, patients will be randomised within group B (LH vs vNOTES).

ANALYSIS

Primary outcome is the proportion of women leaving the hospital within 12 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes are hospitalisation time, conversion rates, duration of the surgical procedure, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications and readmission.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Ethical Board Committee at Imelda Hospital, Bonheiden, Belgium, has approved the research protocol 230704 (principal investigator). Before including patients, all centres will require local or national ethical approval. The results of the study will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05971875.

Enabling Technologies for Gynecologic Vaginal Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the literature to evaluate clinical and surgical outcomes for technologies that facilitate vaginal surgical procedures.

DATA SOURCES

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1990 to May 2022.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

Comparative and single-arm studies with data on contemporary tools or technologies facilitating intraoperative performance of vaginal gynecologic surgical procedures for benign indications were included. Citations were independently double screened, and eligible full-text articles were extracted by two reviewers. Data collected included study characteristics, technology, patient demographics, and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Risk of bias for comparative studies was assessed using established methods, and restricted maximum likelihood model meta-analyses were conducted as indicated.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

The search yielded 8,658 abstracts, with 116 eligible studies that evaluated pedicle sealing devices (n=32), nonrobotic and robotic vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (n=64), suture capture devices (n=17), loop ligatures (n=2), and table-mounted telescopic cameras (n=1). Based on 19 comparative studies, pedicle sealing devices lowered vaginal hysterectomy operative time by 15.9 minutes (95% CI, -23.3 to -85), blood loss by 36.9 mL (95% CI, -56.9 to -17.0), hospital stay by 0.2 days (95% CI, -0.4 to -0.1), and visual analog scale pain scores by 1.4 points on a subjective 10-point scale (95% CI, -1.7 to -1.1). Three nonrandomized comparative studies and 53 single-arm studies supported the feasibility of nonrobotic vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for hysterectomy, adnexal surgery, pelvic reconstruction, and myomectomy. Data were limited for robotic vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, suture capture devices, loop ligatures, and table-mounted cameras due to few studies or study heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Pedicle sealing devices lower operative time and blood loss for vaginal hysterectomy, with modest reductions in hospital stay and pain scores. Although other technologies identified in the literature may have potential to facilitate vaginal surgical procedures and improve outcomes, additional comparative effectiveness research is needed.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42022327490.

Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Hysterectomy Deconstructed: Expanding Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons' Toolbox

Background

The introduction of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) to the toolbox of gynecologic surgeons has the potential to reverse the trend of vaginal hysterectomy declines.

Methods

This review discusses nuances of the vNOTES technique applied to hysterectomy; describes vNOTES hysterectomy, step-by-step (including tips and tricks for low- and high-complexity cases for surgeons who may want to incorporate vNOTES hysterectomy into their surgical repertoires); and examines evidence and research trends in this field.

Results

The descriptions in the text, figures, tables, and videos all contribute to giving readers a clear understanding of vNOTES, its advantages, limitations, and research potentials.

Conclusions

vNOTES hysterectomy is a unique blend of vaginal, laparoscopic, and laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) techniques and is not a new procedure, but rather another tool to use in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. (J GYNECOL SURG 40:78).

Comparison of hysterectomy cases performed by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: A paired sample cross-sectional study

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, indications, and benefits of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (v-NOTES) hysterectomy for nonmalignant gynecological diseases. The clinical data, including the baseline information and surgical conditions of 81 patients who underwent v-NOTES hysterectomy for nonmalignant gynecological diseases in a tertiary university hospital from October 2018 to August 2022, were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the total laparoscopic hysterectomy group (200 cases) and the transumbilical laparoendoscopic Single Site Surgery group (150 cases). In comparison with the other 2 groups, the highest proportion of patients in the v-NOTES group had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Accordingly, mean preoperative uterine volume measured by sonography was significantly smaller in the v-notes group. In the v-NOTES group, the mean number of vaginal deliveries and age were significantly higher, while the mean number of previous abdominal surgeries was lower compared to the other 2 groups. The V-NOTES group had a shorter operation time, shorter postoperative urinary catheter insertion time, earlier intestinal recovery days, shorter hospital stay, and lower visual analogue scale scores after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant. When indicated appropriately, v-NOTES hysterectomy can be a feasible and advantageous surgical modality. In particular, in comparison to the laparoendoscopic Single Site Surgery and total laparoscopic hysterectomy groups, the v-NOTES group had advantages in postoperative recovery and had more aesthetic surgical results.

Comparative outcomes between transvaginal endoscopic hysterectomy and total laparoscopic hysterectomy in patients with benign uterine disease: A single-center, retrospective, cohort, interrupted time-series study

OBJECTIVES

To compare the surgical outcomes of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and transvaginal endoscopic hysterectomy (TVEH) for benign uterine diseases.

METHODS

This retrospective, cohort, interrupted time-series study included patients who underwent TLH between January 2013 and September 2016 and TVEH between October 2016 and June 2020. Median difference regression was used to compare the hospital length of stay (LOS) and operative time between the groups. Risk difference regression was used to analyze the proportion of patients who developed postoperative fever or vaginal stump infection.

RESULTS

Of the total 171 patients enrolled, 101 and 70 underwent TVEH and TLH, respectively. The mean ages of patients in the TVEH and TLH groups were 46.49 and 46.17 years, respectively. No conversion was observed. Ureteric injury occurred in one patient in the TVEH group, whereas there was no organ injury in any of the patients in the TLH group. Compared with those in the TLH group, patients in the TVEH group had a significantly shorter median operative time, shorter hospital LOS, lower morphine use, and lower postoperative febrile morbidity rates. However, no significant difference was observed in the rate of vaginal stump infection between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Given the shorter operative time, shorter hospital LOS, less febrile morbidity, and lower morphine use in patients with TVEH than in those with TLH, TVEH should be considered as an alternative hysterectomy procedure for benign uterine diseases.

Clinical relevance of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in gynecology

This study reviews the progress and recent advances in vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) as a minimally invasive gynecologic procedure. The proposed advantages of vaginal natural orifice transluminal surgery include enhanced cosmesis due to a scarless procedure, better exposure compared with the pure vaginal approach, tolerable pain scores, fewer perioperative complications, and a shorter hospital stay. Recent advances in surgical instrumentation and technology have improved the feasibility of vNOTES as an innovative treatment option for gynecological conditions. However, technical challenges and training issues must be overcome before its widespread use. As a promising surgical innovation, further randomized comparative studies are required to clarify the safety and effectiveness of vNOTES in gynecology.

Impact of Uterine Weight and Shape on vNOTES Hysterectomy: Analysis of 238 Consecutive Cases

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the perioperative outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomies for different uterine weights and shapes.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Swiss teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Women who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy for benign conditions between May 2020 and July 2023 (N = 238). Patients were divided into 4 subgroups depending on uterus weight and shape. Uteri weighting <280 g were classified as type 0. Uteri weighting ≥280 g were categorized as type 1 (no vascular pedicle displacement), type 2 (cranial displacement of adnexal vascular pedicles), and type 3 (displacement of uterine arteries).

INTERVENTIONS

All women underwent vNOTES hysterectomies. We compared perioperative outcomes for the 4 subgroups.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

We classified 168 patients (70.6%) as uterus type 0, 33 patients (13.9%) as type 1, 24 patients (10.1%) as type 2, and 13 patients (5.4%) as type 3. Mean uterine weight was 135.8 ± 59.5 g in type 0, 398.0 ± 167.3 g in type 1, 603.5 ± 217.9 g in type 2, and 661.7 ± 281.6 g in type 3. Operative time in type 0 (65.1 ± 30.9 minutes) and type 1 (65.1 ± 24.0 minutes) was shorter than in type 2 (102.3 ± 60.0 minutes) and type 3 (115.2 ± 40.3 minutes). Blood losses were more significant in type 2 (158.5 ± 212.0 mL) and type 3 (158.5 ± 110.7 mL) than in type 0 (85.6 ± 113.5 mL). No difference in the rate of total complications among groups was observed (8.3%, 3.0%, 12.5%, and 15.4% in types 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The displacement of the vascular pedicles seems associated with longer operative time and more blood loss and could represent a marker for technical difficulty in vNOTES hysterectomy. However, it does not influence the perioperative complication rate.

vNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal surgery) gynecologic procedures in morbidly and super-morbidly obese women: five year experience

PURPOSE

To analyze our experience with vNOTES gynecologic procedures in women with morbid and super morbid obesity to determine feasibility and compare outcomes with standard minimally invasive techniques.

METHODS

Gynecologic procedures performed by three surgeons on women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2 from 2017 to 2023. A subset of women with a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 was also analyzed.

RESULTS

103 women with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 were identified (Class IV), 19 of whom had a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 (Class V). For the entire population the mean BMI was 45.7 kg/m2 (40-62). 29 women were nulliparous and 23 had at least one prior cesarean delivery. 51 had no prior abdominal surgery. The procedures performed were hysterectomy and removal of adnexae in 77 patients, hysterectomy alone in six, adnexal surgery alone in nine, and hysterectomy with adnexectomy and lymph nodes in five. Two surgeries were converted to laparoscopy and five to laparotomy. Average surgical time was 87 min (30-232). Average blood loss was 82 mL (10-400). Mean uterine weight was 206 g (29-2890). 53 procedures were performed as outpatient, 44 had overnight observation, four had a length of stay of 2 days, one each for 4 days and 5 days. The laparoscopies occurred in one patient with an obliterated cul-de-sac and in one patient for lymph node removal. The laparotomies occurred for adnexal adhesions in one, bleeding in two, a cystotomy in one requiring urology consultation, and an obliterated cul-de-sac One patient developed a postoperative vaginal cuff hematoma not requiring intervention.

CONCLUSION

vNOTES gynecologic procedures are feasible in this high-risk population and may result in shorter recovery times and fewer complications than standard laparoscopy or transvaginal surgery. What does this study add to the clinical work: VNOTES approach is feasible in morbidly obese women and may have distinct advantages over conventional laparoscopic, vaginal or open techniques.

Analysis and suggestions on the complications in 2000 cases of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: Can it be a conventional surgery?

OBJECTIVE

To reflect on the complications of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES), identify the corresponding risk factors, and provide caution to surgeons when performing this novel surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out among 2000 patients in our hospital who underwent vNOTES between May 2019 and May 2022. Perioperative complications were stratified in chronological order and divided into those developed while establishing the vNOTES approach, during surgery, postoperatively, and 1 month after discharge. The complications were classified based on the Modified Clavien-Dindo classifications. The causes of each type III/IV complication were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 2000 patients, 88 (4.4%) experienced complications, which is not higher than that reported in laparoendoscopic surgery in previous studies. Grade I, II, III, IV, and V complications developed in 19 (0.95%), 57 (2.85%), 11 (0.55%), 1 (0.05%), and 0 (0%) patients, respectively. Complications were developed while establishing the approach platform, during the surgery, postoperatively, and within 1 month after discharge in 5 (0.25%), 30 (1.50%), 50 (2.50%), and 3 (0.15%) patients, respectively. Eight patients (0.4%) underwent conversion, including five cases of rectal injury repair.

CONCLUSION

The summarized suggestions were divided into three levels. Considering the security and effectiveness of vNOTES, it can be routinely used in various gynecologic operations. However, surgeons should focus on preoperative evaluation, strictly conduct preoperative disinfection, conform to prompt conversion during surgery, call for the presence of experienced doctors, and have routine use of antibiotics to prevent postoperative infections.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2100053483.

vNOTES hysterectomy using the lateral window technique in case of a ventrofixed uterus following previous cesarean sections: A video article

vNOTES uses the vagina as the surgical channel for endoscopy and achieves improved cosmesis compared to conventional laparoscopy as there are no abdominal incisions. Ventrofixation of the uterus to the abdominal wall following previous cesarean sections further adds to the surgeon's concern of bladder injury. In such cases, a modification of the technique is proposed: introducing the vNOTES port first, before the opening of the vesico-uterine peritoneal folds, thus carried out under endoscopic view. Medial anterior vesico-uterine adhesions are identified and circumscribed by creating a lateral window in the broad ligament on both sides. This allows the cutting of adhesions under endoscopic view to minimize the risk of bladder injuries. The aim of this technical note is to present this modification of the surgical technique for vNOTES hysterectomy in case of ventrofixed uterus.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of three surgical approaches for total hysterectomy (TSATH): protocol for a multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure in the field of gynaecology. The traditional multiport laparoscopy, transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (TU-LESS) and transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy approaches have been implemented to varying degrees in clinical practice. At present, although their feasibility has been proven, there are no large randomised controlled studies on postoperative rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate postoperative recovery and assess the safety and effectiveness of these three surgical approaches for total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

This is a multicentre, randomised, single-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, interventional clinical trial. Recruitment will be carried out in five tertiary hospitals in China. Patients diagnosed with benign uterine disease or precancerous lesions will be assigned to the vNOTES group, TU-LESS group and conventional laparoscopy group at a 1:1:1 ratio. The achievement rate of comprehensive indices of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) within 24 hours postoperatively will be considered the primary outcome (the comprehensive indicators of ERAS include fluid intake, passing flatus, urination after catheter removal, ambulation and a Visual Analogue Scale score ≤3.) This study will use a non-inferiority test, with a power (1-ß) of 80% and a margin of -0.15, at a one-sided α of 0.0125. The sample size will be 480 patients (including an assumed 15% dropout rate), calculated according to the primary outcome.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved on 25 April 2022 by the Medical Ethics Committee of West China Second University Hospital (2022(057)), Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. All participants will be required to provide informed consent before their participation in the study. The results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.

PROTOCOL VERSION

V.3.0, 31 August 2023.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200057405.

Comparing vNOTES Hysterectomy with Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Large Uteri

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to compare conventional laparoscopic hysterectomies (LHs) with vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomies performed for patients with large uteri (weight >280 g) at our institution, which underwent a change in practice from conventional LH to vNOTES for large uteri.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

French tertiary university hospital.

PATIENTS

Two cohorts: the last 54 patients who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy and the last 52 patients who underwent conventional LH for large uteri.

INTERVENTION

Baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes were assessed, including uterine weight, mode of delivery for previous pregnancies, history of abdominal surgery, indication for hysterectomy, associated procedures, operative time (OT), complications, volume of intraoperative bleeding, and length of postoperative hospital stay.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Both groups were comparable, with a mean uterine weight of 586.4 ± 289.2 g in the laparoscopy group compared with 686.7 ± 374.6 g in the vNOTES group. There was a significant decrease in the OT in the vNOTES group with a median of 99 minutes (66.5-138.5 minutes) compared with 171 minutes (131-208 minutes) in the laparoscopy group, p <.001. The length of hospital stay was also decreased in the vNOTES group with a median of 0.5 nights compared with 2 nights in the laparoscopy group, p <.001. More patients were managed in an ambulatory setting in the vNOTES group (50% vs 3.7%, p <.001). Our study did not find any significant difference in terms of bleeding or the number of conversions to another surgical approach. The frequency of intraoperative and postoperative complications was very low.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the laparoscopic approach, vNOTES hysterectomy for large uteri (>280 g) is associated with decreased OT, a shorter hospital stay, and increased performance in the ambulatory setting.

Old meets new: vNOTES retroperitoneal promontory fixation in conjunction with the uterus preserving Manchester procedure✰,✰✰

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The Manchester procedure is a classic native tissue prolapse technique with low recurrence and low complication rate. vNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery) is a vaginal approach to enter the intra or retroperitoneal space, with the guidance of endoscopic visualization. Different studies have shown women to prefer uterus-preserving correction of prolapse over hysterectomy, as they worry about complications, impact on sexual function and self- sense. At the same time, an increasing caution and awareness of mesh related complications has evolved, giving a need for the development of additional non-mesh uterus preserving surgical techniques for prolapse. The aim with the video is to show a new surgical technique for prolapse, combining the Manchester procedure with vNOTES retroperitoneal non-mesh promontory hysteropexy.

Repeated transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: An initial Chinese experience

AIMS

To investigate the perioperative outcomes and sexual function of patients undergoing repeated transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES).

METHODS

We retrieved the records of patients who underwent vNOTES twice at our institute between April 2019 and December 2022 and analyzed their baseline information and perioperative complications, and compared the pre- and postoperative sexual function of both vNOTES.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age and body mass index were 29.00 ± 3.59 and 30.4 ± 4.00 years and 21.89 ± 3.69 and 22.76 ± 3.88 kg/m2 , respectively, when receiving the first and second vNOTES. Ectopic pregnancy was the most frequent indication for vNOTES, with 7 cases in the first vNOTES and 11 cases in repeated vNOTES. The interval between the two vNOTESs ranged from 9 days to 38 months. The operation duration (63.33 ± 13.71 vs. 67.33 ± 22.51 min, p = 0.723), intraoperative estimated blood loss (32.00 ± 20.42 vs. 30.00 ± 9.26 mL, p = 0.429), and duration of postoperative hospital stay (2.20 ± 0.56 vs. 2.40 ± 0.51 days, p = 0.082) of both vNOTESs were comparable. No significant differences were found in any of the domains in the comparison of pre-first and post-first vNOTES, pre-second and post-second vNOTES, and pre-first and post-second vNOTES female sexual function index. None of the patients delivered after the second vNOTES.

CONCLUSION

Repeated vNOTES is safe and feasible. No significant change in the patients' sexual function was found in our cohort after the first and second vNOTES.

Comparison of Outcomes following Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery and Laparoendoscopic Single-site Surgery in Benign Hysterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Gradually increasing interest in laparoscopic surgeries has led to the advent of various lesser invasive techniques in the form of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) and laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. Very few studies have analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of vNOTES over LESS surgeries in hysterectomy. After a comprehensive search, full texts of relevant manuscripts were obtained to assess eligibility for recruitment. A comprehensive meta-analysis was subsequently performed to compare the outcomes of vNOTES and LESS in hysterectomy, and forest plots were constructed. Four articles were rendered for review (three retrospective cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial). Three studies showed lesser postoperative pain in vNOTES compared to LESS. In one study, postoperative vaginal pain was higher in vNOTES due to additional suture between uterine artery and vaginal wall. The meta-analysis concluded that vNOTES could be better alternative to LESS hysterectomies. However, further large multicentric randomized trials are required for the standardization of the surgical method.

Assessment of women's sexual quality of life after benign adnexal surgery using vNOTES approach in comparison to conventional laparoscopy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has already proven its non-inferiority to conventional abdominal laparoscopy (CAL) for hysterectomy without conversion. The results in terms of efficacy and safety are promising. However, we note a lack of medical literature and no specific randomised controlled trial assessing women's sexual function after vNOTES for benign adnexal surgery. The aim of this RCT is to confirm the non-inferiority of the vNOTES approach for benign adnexal pathology compared with CAL on women's sexual function. Secondary outcomes will evaluate vNOTES's efficiency, morbidity and postoperative complications compared with CAL for benign adnexal surgery. The relationship between adnexal mass morcellation and the quality of the histological analysis will also be evaluated as secondary outcome.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Women aged 18-70 years undergoing a benign adnexal surgery at the Geneva University Hospitals will be eligible and randomised with a 1:1 ratio to the CAL arm or the vNOTES arm, if inclusion criteria are met. Participants will complete the Female Sexual Function Index, the Couple Satisfaction Index-16 and a self-reported questionnaire on dyspareunia within 4 weeks prior to randomisation and at 3+6 months after surgery. General and clinical data will be collected when the patient is enrolled in the study, during hospitalisation and at 1 month postoperative to assess secondary outcomes.An absence of impairment on sexual function will be confirmed with a stability or an improvement of the evaluated scores in each group at 3 and 6 months postoperative compared with the preoperative scores. We expect to have no statistically significant difference in sexuality questionnaires scores between the two groups.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Protocol of this study was validated by the Cantonal Research Ethics Commission of Geneva, Switzerland, on 9 August 2022. We aim to publish the study's results in peer-reviewed journals within 3 years.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05761275.

vNOTEsHC : Hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery versus laparoscopic for large uteri: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

Background

In France, 62,000 hysterectomies are performed per year, 70% of which are benign. The choice of approach (laparotomy, laparoscopy or vaginal route) is particularly important in the case of large uterus (> 280g) which are associated with a higher risk of complications. The current data are not sufficient to favour one or other approach. A new medical device, the vNOTES (Natural Vaginal Orifice Transluminal Endoscopy System), offers the advantage of both laparoscopic and vaginal route for pelvic surgery.

Objectives

To demonstrate the superiority in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications of the use of a natural orifice transluminal endoscopic hysterectomy system (vNOTES) versus laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign pathologies on estimated large volume uteri (>280g).

Materials and Methods

A randomised, double-blind, superiority trial will be performed at five hospital centres. Women with benign uterine pathology requiring hysterectomy and with a large uterus (> 280g) will be randomised to receive either laparoscopic or vNOTES hysterectomy.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome will be the occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications within 6 weeks of surgery. Secondary outcomes will be conversion during surgery, duration of surgery and hospitalisation, postoperative pain, postoperative complications, resumption of sexual life and satisfaction with the surgical team.

Results

248 women will be randomised.

Conclusion

This trial will provide a better understanding of the approach to large uteri optimise the care of these thousands of women undergoing hysterectomy.

What’s new?

This trial will evaluate the vNotes for large uteri.

Surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are five major approaches to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease: abdominal hysterectomy (AH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH), robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RH) and vaginal natural orifice hysterectomy (V-NOTES). Within the LH category we further differentiate the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) from the total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (SP-LH).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of different surgical approaches to hysterectomy for women with benign gynaecological conditions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases (from their inception to December 2022): the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Specialised Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO. We also searched the trial registries and relevant reference lists, and communicated with experts in the field for any additional trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which clinical outcomes were compared between one surgical approach to hysterectomy and another.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

At least two review authors independently selected trials, assessed risk of bias and performed data extraction. Our primary outcomes were return to normal activities, satisfaction and quality of life, intraoperative visceral injury and major long-term complications (i.e. fistula, pelvic-abdominal pain, urinary dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, pelvic floor condition and sexual dysfunction).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 63 studies with 6811 women. The evidence for most comparisons was of low or moderate certainty. The main limitations were poor reporting and imprecision. Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) versus abdominal hysterectomy (AH) (12 RCTs, 1046 women) Return to normal activities was probably faster in the VH group (mean difference (MD) -10.91 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -17.95 to -3.87; 4 RCTs, 274 women; I2 = 67%; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the return to normal activities after AH is assumed to be 42 days, then after VH it would be between 24 and 38 days. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for the other primary outcomes. Laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) versus AH (28 RCTs, 3431 women) Return to normal activities may be sooner in the LH group (MD -13.01 days, 95% CI -16.47 to -9.56; 7 RCTs, 618 women; I2 = 68%, low-certainty evidence), but there may be more urinary tract injuries in the LH group (odds ratio (OR) 2.16, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.93; 18 RCTs, 2594 women; I2 = 0%; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the return to normal activities after abdominal hysterectomy is assumed to be 37 days, then after laparoscopic hysterectomy it would be between 22 and 25 days. It also suggests that if the rate of ureter injury during abdominal hysterectomy is assumed to be 0.2%, then during laparoscopic hysterectomy it would be between 0.2% and 2%. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for the other primary outcomes. LH versus VH (22 RCTs, 2135 women) We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for any of our primary outcomes. Both short- and long-term complications were rare in both groups. Robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RH) versus LH (three RCTs, 296 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates or quality of life. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for our other primary outcomes. Single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (SP-LH) versus LH (seven RCTs, 621 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates, quality of life or major long-term complications. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of intraoperative visceral injury. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) versus laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) (three RCTs, 233 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates or quality of life. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of intraoperative visceral injury or major long-term complications. Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (V-NOTES) versus LH (two RCTs, 96 women) We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of bladder injury. Our other primary outcomes were not reported. Overall, adverse events were rare in the included studies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Among women undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease, VH appears to be superior to AH. When technically feasible, VH should be performed in preference to AH because it is associated with faster return to normal activities, fewer wound/abdominal wall infections and shorter hospital stay. Where VH is not possible, LH has advantages over AH including faster return to normal activities, shorter hospital stay, and decreased risk of wound/abdominal wall infection, febrile episodes or unspecified infection, and transfusion. These advantages must be balanced against the increased risk of ureteric injury and longer operative time. When compared to LH, VH was associated with no difference in time to return to normal activities but shorter operative time and shorter hospital stay. RH and V-NOTES require further evaluation since there is a lack of evidence of any patient benefit over conventional LH. Overall, the evidence in this review has to be interpreted with caution as adverse event rates were low, resulting in low power for these comparisons. The surgical approach to hysterectomy should be discussed with the patient and decided in the light of the relative benefits and hazards. Surgical expertise is difficult to quantify and poorly reported in the available studies and this may influence outcomes in ways that cannot be accounted for in this review. In conclusion, when VH is not feasible, LH has multiple advantages over AH, but at the cost of more ureteric injuries. Evidence is limited for RH and V-NOTES.

Does transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery affect female sexual function?: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effect of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) on female sexual function.

METHODS

The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100050887, 07/09/2021). In this prospective cohort study, we prospectively analyzed the data of the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire of 130 patients who underwent laparoscopy in Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital due to gynecological benign diseases. The patients were assigned to the vNOTES group and the control group (underwent traditional laparoscopic surgery or transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery).

RESULTS

There were 4 cases dropout in the vNOTES group and 2 cases dropout in the control group. There was no difference in the ages (31.70 ± 5.02 vs. 30.37 ± 5.74, P>0.05), BMI (body mass index, 21.76 ± 3.16 vs. 23.30 ± 2.69, P>0.05), Education level, surgical types, and FSFI scores (22.31 ± 2.25 vs. 21.55 ± 3.38) between the vNOTES group and the control group before surgery. There was no difference in FSFI scores six months postoperation between the vNOTES group and the control group (21.61 ± 3.22 vs. 20.99 ± 3.26, P>0.05), and there was no difference in FSFI scores pre- and six months postoperation in vNOTES group (21.61 ± 3.22 vs. 22.31 ± 2.25, P>0.05). The time to start sexual life after surgery in the vNOTES group was later than that in the control group (39.34 ± 0.71 d versus 37.86 ± 0.69 d, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

vNOTES has no significant adverse effect on female sexual function, however, the time to start sexual life after vNOTES is later than that after trans-abdominal laparoscopy.

Transvaginal natural orifice endoscopic surgery for ovarian cystectomy: a more suitable surgical approach for the day-care procedure

Introduction

Although previous studies have shown that vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has the advantages of causing less pain, faster recovery, and better concealment of surgical incisions, which aligns with the concept of the day-care procedure, this approach poses a greater risk of damaging adjacent organs (i. e., rectum and bladder) due to its anatomical specificity. Moreover, the day-care procedure may lead to relatively less preoperative evaluation and postoperative care. Hence, it is necessary to explore the safety and effectiveness of vNOTES for ovarian cystectomy in the day-care procedure, to provide a theoretical basis for the wider development of vNOTES surgery.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 131 patients at our hospital who underwent ovarian cystectomy from September 2021 to October 2022. Based on the surgical approach, patients were classified into transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) and vNOTES groups. The patients' demographic characteristics and follow-up data were collected during the perioperative period and 1-month postoperatively.

Results

Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery has less postoperative exhaust time, a lower postoperative 6-hour pain score, and a lower incidence of analgesic drug use, with higher surgical conversion incidence. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the surgical conversion, chocolate cyst, bilateral cyst, and pelvic adhesion increased the operation duration by ~43 (95% CI: 10.309, 68.152, p < 0.001), 15 (95% CI: 6.342, 45.961, p = 0.036), 10 (95% CI: 3.07, 40.166, p = 0.019), and 8 (95% CI: 4.555, 26.779, p = 0.035) min, respectively. Interestingly, vNOTES decreased the operation duration by ~8.5 min (95% CI: -18.313, -2.699, p = 0.033).

Conclusion

Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery was equally safe and effective for ovarian cystectomy compared to LESS. vNOTES aligned with the concept of the day-care procedure due to its reduced postoperative pain, shorter exhaust time, and absence of scarring. However, surgeons should conduct a comprehensive preoperative evaluation and exclude patients suspected to have severe pelvic adhesions.

Posterior rectus fascia prolapse (PREFAP) repair: a new native tissue approach to pelvic organ prolapse via vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition in women. During lifetime, up to 40% of all women will develop (POP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between June and December 2021, five patients were successfully treated via vNOTES Posterior Rectus Fascia Prolapse ( PREFAP) repair. No intra-operative complications or conversions occurred.

CONCLUSION

In this study we demonstrated a new technique for prolapse repair, harvesting the autologous posterior rectus fascia sheath via vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) as an alternative for a synthetic mesh.

Implementing the transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) "first" strategy in benign gynecological surgeries

PURPOSE

The use of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) as the first choice of surgical route for patients scheduled to undergo conventional laparoscopy is still being debated. We aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of the "vNOTES first" strategy in benign gynecological cases.

METHODS

All benign gynecological surgeries were initiated using vNOTES during the study period, regardless of the difficulty. Surgical outcomes, short-term patient satisfaction and sexual pain were compared between hysterectomies, adnexal and diagnostic procedures. Visual Analog Score (VAS), Patients Global Impressions of Improvements scale (PGI-I) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used to assess the postoperative pain, satisfaction and sexual pain, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 105 vNOTES procedures were performed during the study period: 63 (60.58%) adnexal procedures, 36 (34.62%) hysterectomies, 5 (4.81%) diagnostic procedures and one (0.96%) myomectomy. The median 24th hour VAS scores for adnexal, hysterectomy, and diagnostic procedures were 1.29 ± 1.41, 2.06 ± 2.08, and 2.6 ± 2.41, respectively. The satisfaction rate was 96.19% at the 1st postoperative week and 97.14% at the first month. There was either no change or a slight improvement in the patients' total score on the FSFI/pain domain before and after surgery. There were two conversions (1.9%) from vNOTES to laparoscopy and laparotomy, and two (5.56%) bladder injuries in hysterectomy cases.

CONCLUSION

Implementing the vNOTES technique as an initial approach for all benign gynecological surgeries seems feasible, safe and satisfactory, even in those with a non-prolapsed or enlarged uterus and those that have previously undergone abdominal surgery. The pain scores were found to be low and patients stated a high satisfaction with no or better change in their sexual life.

vNOTES Hysterectomy: What about Obese Patients?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the surgical outcomes of hysterectomy by vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for patients with body mass index (BMI) <30 and BMI ≥30.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A French teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

All patients who underwent a vNOTES hysterectomy from February 2020 to January 2022 were included (N = 200). The vNOTES approach was chosen for all patients requiring a hysterectomy, unless the procedure was for endometriosis or cancer (except grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma).

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their BMI (<30 or ≥30 kg/m²). The population characteristics, surgical outcomes, and hospitalization outcomes were compared. The main outcome was the intraoperative conversion rate. Secondary end points were blood loss, operative time, perioperative and postoperative complications, and same-day surgery management.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 146 patients were included in the BMI <30 group, and 54 patients in the BMI ≥30 group. There was no statistical difference between obese and nonobese patients concerning intraoperative conversion (p = .150), with 4 cases occurring in the BMI <30 group (2.74%) and 4 occurring in the BMI ≥30 group (7.41%). Operative times were longer in obese patients (115.93 min [±55.28] vs 79.78 min [±40.38], p <.001). There was no significant difference in blood loss (p = .337) or perioperative and postoperative complications (p = .346 and p = .612, respectively). The ability to complete the surgery as a same-day procedure was no different between obese and nonobese patients (p = .150).

CONCLUSION

The results concerning intraoperative conversion and perioperative and postoperative complications show that vNOTES hysterectomies seem to be feasible for obese patients. When same-day surgery was decided before surgery, no more obese than nonobese patients were converted to conventional hospitalization. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations.

The revival of vaginal surgery in the era of endoscopy: V-NOTES initial experience with a series of 32 patients

Background: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (V-NOTES) is an emerging surgical technique in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery. This technique allows different types of surgical procedures to be performed by vaginal access with endoscopic control. The combination of vaginal surgery and laparoscopy brings many advantages, especially the absence of incisions in the abdominal wall and better visualization of the abdominal cavity. Objectives: In this retrospective study we report our initial experience of V-NOTES in benign gynaecologic surgery by describing our first consecutive 32 surgeries. Materials and Methods: From June 2020 to January 2022, 32 gynaecological procedures were performed by V-NOTES by the same surgeon in a university hospital. Perioperative outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. Main outcomes measures: Conversion to laparoscopy or laparotomy and peri-operative and post-operative complications. Results: None of the 32 V-NOTES procedures required conversion to conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy. We observed 2 intraoperative complications managed by V-NOTES and 2 post-operative complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade 2). Conclusion: Our results are similar to studies previously published about this subject and are promising concerning the techniques efficacy and safety. We do believe that a short training allows to reach benefits safely. However, further prospective multicentre randomized trials comparing V-NOTES to totally laparoscopic hysterectomy and to vaginal hysterectomy are needed to strengthen the validity of this new approach. What’s new? V-NOTES widens the indications of vaginal hysterectomies by removing limitations such as large uterus, absence of prolapse, and history of caesarean. Moreover, this technique allows adnexal surgery to be performed by vaginal access.

Diagnosing and Treating Infertility via Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery versus Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in the treatment of female infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study includes 174 female patients with a history of long-standing female infertility. We retrospectively reviewed 41 patients who underwent hysterolaparoscopy (HL) via transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) and 133 patients who underwent laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS). Demographic data, operation records, and pregnancy outcomes were collected and analyzed. The deadline for postoperative follow-up was June 2022. All the included patients were followed up for at least 18 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Compared with the LESS group, the vNOTES group had a shorter postoperative bowel movement time and less pain at 4 and 12 h (p = 0.004 vs. 0.008); no differences were found in other perioperative indicators. The clinical pregnancy rates of the vNOTES and LESS groups were 87.80% and 74.43% (p = 0.073), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

vNOTES represents a new, less invasive approach for infertility diagnosis and treatment that is particularly suitable for women who have special esthetic requirements. vNOTES is safe and practical and may be an ideal choice for scarless infertility surgery.

Isthmic retroperitoneal cerclage via vNOTES as a potential alternative to an abdominal cerclage: First technique description

OBJECTIVE

To describe a new technique for performing an isthmic retroperitoneal cerclage via vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES).

DESIGN

Stepwise explanation of the surgical technique using original video footage. This study was exempted from requiring hospital IRB.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imelda Hospital, Belgium.

INTERVENTION

A circumferential vaginal incision is made around the cervix after infiltration of the tissue with local anaesthetic and adrenaline. The bladder is deflected from the cervix up to the level of the isthmus but the peritoneum is not opened. The rectum is deflected from the cervix up to the level of the isthmus but the peritoneum is not opened. A Gelpoint vPath (9.5 cm) (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita) is used as a vNOTES port. The inner ring of the Alexis is inserted into the retroperitoneal dissection space around the cervix, covering the bladder anteriorly and the rectum posteriorly. An insufflation stabilization bag (ISB) is connected to the Gelseal cap to minimize pressure fluctuations within the confines of the retroperitoneal operative space. The paracervical space is opened just inferior to the uterine artery. A paracervical tunnel is made from the anterior to the posterior retroperitoneal space just lateral to the cervix and just inferior to the uterine artery. This procedure is performed bilaterally. A vessel loop is inserted from anterior to posterior through the paracervical tunnel on each side of the cervix. The Gelseal cap is removed and an Ethibond-2 suture is tied to the vessel loop. The Gelseal cap is placed again. By pulling on the vessel loop, it is replaced by the Ethibond suture. The Ethibond suture is now tied endoscopically to complete the cerclage; alternatively the suture could be tied vaginally without endoscopic instruments to the surgeon's preference. The vNOTES port is removed and the vaginal mucosa is sutured to the cervix again using a resorbable suture.

DISCUSSION

Abdominal cerclage is the preferred approach to treat patients with refractory cervical insufficiency [1]. Over the last 20 years this technique increasingly gets performed laparoscopically with similar success rates [2]. The new transvaginal approach demonstrated in this video article may help reduce the invasivess even more by avoiding abdominal incisions and opening the peritoneum, while still benefiting from the vNOTES endoscopic visualization and minimally invasive instruments [3]. The cerclage is placed permanently at the level of the isthmus, similar to an abdominal cerclage. It is placed more cranially than a McDonald or Shirodkar cerclage and leaves no non-resorbable sutures in the vagina [4]. It can be an alternative to a conventional transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage [5,6] in patients with a narrow vagina and without uterine descensus. Following the guidelines of the IDEAL collaboration we present this technique to be peer reviewed in its early developmental phase before starting further studies [7].

CONCLUSION

This is a first feasibility and technique description report on performing a retroperitoneal isthmic cervical via vNOTES. This technique should be considered new, not to be performed on pregnant patients or outside of clinical trials, and only in carefully counselled patients.

The Feasibility and Safety of vNOTES Hysterectomy and Uterosacral Ligament Suspension: A Case Series

The transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is a recently introduced surgical approach that is even less invasive than conventional laparoscopy or robotic surgery. We conducted this study to report our experience in vNOTES hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament suspension and determine the feasibility and safety of this approach. Surgeries on 23 women were performed by a single surgeon in 1 tertiary medical center. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and follow-up details of 23 women were collected prospectively. Average age was 56.7 ± 8.9 years. Median parity was 3. Nine patients were smokers, and 4 patients had diabetes. Median stage of prolapse was 3. One patient had extensive adhesions, and after vNOTES hysterectomy was completed, decision was made to perform uterosacral suspension by conventional vaginal access. Another patient had intraoperative identification by cystoscopy of unilateral kinking of the ureter that was resolved after the most distal uterosacral stitch was released. Mean uterine weight was 271.9 ± 131.9 g. Average estimated blood loss was 85.22 ± 55.6 mL. Median length of stay in the hospital was 1 day. Only 1 patient had intermittent voiding postoperatively and required an indwelling catheter for 3 days. Hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament suspension when performed via vNOTES is a safe and feasible procedure. Large prospective trials are on the way to continue shedding light on this new surgical modality.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for presacral-uterosacral ligament compound suspension in apical compartment prolapse

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to describe a novel mesh-free pelvic repair surgery for apical prolapse and to evaluate the effect of this technique and early outcomes.

METHODS

We demonstrate the key techniques in a video: exposing the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) of the presacral space; securing a non-absorbable suture to the ALL by horoscope stitch; shortening the right uterosacral ligament (USL); placing a non-absorbable suture around the intermediate portion of the left USL for three stitches; placing the non-absorbable suture in the transverse portion of the pubocervical and rectovaginal fascia; locking sutures in place to approximate anterior to posterior connective tissue. Fifteen patients were enrolled to undergo this procedure between December 2020 and April 2021.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 60.67 (range 46-69) years, the mean body mass index was 24.25 kg/m² (range 19.61-30.08). The mean operation time was 103.6 min (range 65-166), and the mean blood loss was 82 ml (range 50-200). No intraoperative complications occurred. All patients gained a significant improvement in anatomical and objective outcomes during a mean 9.93-month follow-up, and there was no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience showed that this mesh-free repair surgery was a feasible and safe technique for apical prolapse.

Hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: An Italian initial experience

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the initial feasibility, safety, and outcomes of hysterectomy performed by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) at three institutions in Italy.

Materials and methods

All women who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy ± salpingo-oophorectomy for benign indications at three tertiary referral medical centers between July 2019 and April 2021 were included in a retrospective analysis. All vNOTESs were performed with the use of Alexis^® and Vpath Gel paths^® (Applied Medical). Perioperative data were extracted from patient records. Patient satisfaction and dyspareunia were prospectively inquired about at 60 days and 6 months.

Results

Forty-six patients underwent vNOTES in the study period. Indications for surgery included myomas ± metrorrhagia (52.2%), H-Sil/in situ cervical cancer (10.7%), adenomyosis ± metrorrhagia (8.7%), BRCA 1-2 mutations (6.5%), endometrial hyperplasia (6.5%), ovarian cyst + history of breast cancer (6.5%), metrorrhagia (6.5%), and hydatidiform mole (2.2%). The mean operation time was 91.1 (±32.6) minutes. The mean hemoglobin drop was 1.2 (±0.8). The mean visual analog scale at 24 h for post-operative pain was 3.3 (±1.8). Secondary to our limited experience with the surgical technique, we favor discharge only from day 1. The mean length of hospital stay was 2 (±1.4) days. Two conversions to conventional laparoscopy were reported (4.3%), due to an obliterated pouch of Douglas and a preoperative complication. Two post-operative complications were reported (4.3%). Overall, our data on peri- and post-operative outcomes are similar to those already published for vNOTES.

Conclusion

Our initial experience suggests that introducing vNOTES as an alternative to conventional surgery is feasible and may offer some advantages in selected women.

Chopstick technique versus cross technique in LESS hysterectomy (CCLEH study): a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background

The traditional cross technique can be used to complete most laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) procedures, but some relatively precise operations, such as vaginal stump suturing, are challenging. In practice, we have introduced a novel technique named the chopstick technique and applied it to more complex operations, such as cervical cancer operations, and found that it contributes to performing delicate surgery. The efficacy and safety of two different surgical techniques in LESS hysterectomy remain to be validated.

Methods

Patients who undergo total hysterectomy will be enrolled in this RCT. Stratified randomization will be performed according to uterine size (< 10 cm, 10–15cm, ≥ 15 cm). The participants will be divided into the chopstick technique group or cross technique group to undergo laparoendoscopic single-site total hysterectomy (LESS-TH), and then the perioperative and postoperative data, including the total operation time and other times, transfer rates, estimated blood loss, surgeon fatigue, intraoperative and postoperative complications (within 8 weeks after surgery), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) scores, postoperative hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses, will be evaluated. The primary outcome is the operating time for total hysterectomy under LESS, and the other outcomes are secondary outcomes.

Discussion

It is expected that the efficacy of the two techniques in LESS, the chopstick technique vs. the cross technique, will be compared and accumulate safety data on the new techniques will be accumulated.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2000040843, registered on June 16,2020

Protocol version:

Version 2.0; Date: 2020.05.10

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06650-w.