Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy versus abdominal sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) versus abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) for vaginal vault prolapse (VVP).

METHODS

Long-term follow-up of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (SALTO trial). A total of 74 women were randomly assigned to LSC (n=37) or ASC (n=37). Primary outcome was disease-specific quality of life, measured with validated questionnaires. Secondary outcomes included anatomical outcome, composite outcome of success, complications, and retreatment.

RESULTS

We analyzed 22 patients in the LSC group and 19 patients in the ASC group for long-term follow-up, with a median follow-up of 109 months (9.1 years). Disease-specific quality of life did not differ after long-term follow-up with median scores of 0.0 (LSC: IQR 0-17; ASC: IQR 0-0) on the "genital prolapse" domain of the Urogenital Distress Inventory in both groups (p = 0.175). Anatomical outcomes were the same for both groups on all points of the POP-Q. The composite outcome of success for the apical compartment is 78.6% (n = 11) in the LSC group and 84.6% (n = 11) in the ASC group (p = 0.686). Mesh exposures occurred in 2 patients (12.5%) in the LSC group and 1 patient (7.7%) in the ASC group. There were 5 surgical reinterventions in both groups (LSC: 22.7%; ASC: 26.3%, p = 0.729).

CONCLUSIONS

At long-term follow-up no substantial differences in quality of life, anatomical results, complications, or reinterventions between LSC and ASC were observed. Therefore, the laparoscopic approach is preferable, considering the short-term advantages.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Dutch Trial Register NTR6330, 18 January 2017, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5964.

Robotic sacrocolpopexy: adverse events reported to the FDA over the last decade

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

As surgeons increase the volume of robotic abdominal sacrocolpopexies (rASCs) and become more experienced, a subsequent decrease in the number of adverse events is expected over time. Further, as the leading manufacturer of the operative robot (Intuitive Surgical) improves the technology, adverse events should also decrease. We hypothesized that there has been a decrease in adverse event reporting for rASCs and that serious adverse events are rare.

METHODS

We performed a search of the FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. All entries with the manufacturer "Intuitive Surgical" were exported from 2007 to 2017. All entries with "sacrocolpopexy" were then isolated and analyzed.

RESULTS

The number of adverse events reported for rASC peaked in 2013 and 2014, at 107 and 124 respectively. In 2015 and 2016, the number dropped to 11 and 7 respectively. There were 334 reported adverse events from 2007 to 2017. Five (1.50%) were categorized as death, 33 (9.88%) as injury, and 296 (88.62%) as malfunction. Analysis of the malfunction reports found that 15 out of 296 (5.07%) were converted to open surgery, 4 out of 296 (1.3%) were converted to laparoscopic surgery, 4 out of 296 (1.3%) cases were aborted, and 6 out of 296 (2.03%) malfunctions resulted in patient injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the MAUDE database has its limitations, it does indicate that the number of adverse events reported for rASC peaked in 2013 and 2014 and has decreased annually since then. This may be due to improved proficiency of the surgeon and surgical team, in addition to improvements in the robot. When malfunctions do occur, they infrequently cause serious injury or have an impact on surgical approach.

Surgery for Apical Vaginal Prolapse After Hysterectomy: Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy

The number of surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse in the United States is increasing. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy has become the gold standard for women desiring a restorative repair of their apical pelvic organ prolapse. Despite the associated morbidity of abdominal sacrocolpopexy, advances in minimally invasive approaches have safely increased the number of these surgeries performed, especially among urologists. Moreover, a number of studies have demonstrated superior objective outcomes after abdominal sacrocolpopexy when compared with vaginal approaches. Variations in the technique are described, but no consensus exists on a standard approach.

Trans-vaginal mesh surgery for management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse following abdominal sacrocolpopexy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of transvaginal mesh surgery as a management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse, in patients previously treated with sacrocolpopexy.

CASE REPORT

A series of three patients who developed recurrent pelvic organ prolapse more than 9 years after sacrocolpopexy. A 50-year-old and two 77-year-old patients who presented with recurrent pelvic organ prolapse at 9, 15 and 17 years, respectively after the primary abdominal sacrocolpopexy were managed by transvaginal mesh surgery.

CONCLUSION

Management of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse using transvaginal mesh would be an option for patients treated previously by sacrocolpopexy.

Comparative analysis of overall cost and rate of healthcare utilization among apical prolapse procedures

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The annual cost of prolapse surgeries is expected to grow at twice the rate of population growth. Understanding the economic impact of apical prolapse procedures, including sacrospinous fixation (SSF), abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC), and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC), is crucial. We aimed to compare overall cost of SSF versus ASC and LSC, as well as health resource utilization, up to 90-day follow-up.

METHODS

Truven Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounter databases 2008-2012 were used to calculate index and 90-day follow-up costs for SSF, ASC, and LSC with/without hysterectomy. Rates of inpatient readmissions, outpatient visits, and emergency room (ER) visits were also calculated during the follow-up period. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.3.

RESULTS

There were 17,549 SSF, 6126 ASC, and 10,708 LSC procedures. Mean index cost was lower for SSF (US$10,993) than ASC ($12,763, p < 0.0001) and LSC ($13,647, p < 0.0001). Concurrent hysterectomy impacted costs. Follow-up costs were likewise lower for SSF ($13,916) than ASC ($15,716, p < 0.0001) and LSC ($16,838, p < 0.0001). Lower rates of readmission were reported in SSF (4.22%) than ASC (5.40%, p = 0.0001) and LSC (4.64%, p = 0.0411). The rate of at least one ER visit was also lower for SSF (10.9%) than for ASC (12.0%, p = 0.0170) and comparable with LSC (10.6%, p = 0.0302).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall mean costs are significantly lower for SSF than ASC/LSC, as are those for health resource utilization. Besides lower morbidity rates being associated with vaginal procedures, our results demonstrate another reason to consider the increased use of SSF over sacrocolpopexies in apical prolapse surgery.

Does menopausal status impact urinary continence outcomes following abdominal sacrocolpopexy without anti-incontinence procedures in continent women?

Objective:

We investigated the impact of menopausal status on urinary continence following abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) without an anti-incontinence procedure in continent women.

Methods:

We conducted a clinical follow-up study of 137 patients diagnosed with stage 3 or higher pelvic organ prolapse (POP) without urinary incontinence between January 2012 and December 2014. Patients were provided with detailed a priori information pertaining to the abdominal sacrocolpopexy procedure and were invited to attend follow-up visits at 1, 3, 12, and 24 months. Follow-up visits included a gynecological examination, cough test, and validated Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) questionnaires.

Results:

The mean follow-up time for the cohort was 16.5±3.45 months. The study group was divided according to menopausal status: premenopausal (Group-1) and postmenopausal women (Group-II). Anatomical recurrence was not detected during the follow-up period in either group, but de novo stress urinary incontinence was seen in 15 of 53 (28.3%) Group-I patients and in 6 of 84 (7.1%; p < 0.01) Group-II patients.

Conclusions:

The risk of de novo stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women after ASC is low. However, premenopausal patients have a higher incidence of de novo stress incontinence which affect quality of life.

Transabdominal sacrocolpopexy with autologous rectus fascia graft

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Extrusion and infection are potential postoperative complications when using synthetic mesh for abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Long-term follow-up in the Colpopexy and Urinary Reduction Efforts (CARE) trial revealed an estimated 9.9 % risk of mesh extrusion. There are 26 reports of spondylodiscitis after sacrocolpopexy with synthetic mesh. These surgical risks may be decreased by using autologous fascia. To date, there have been no reports of extrusion or spondylodiscitis after using autologous fascia for sacrocolpopexy.

METHODS

This video demonstrates transabdominal sacrocolpopexy with an autologous rectus fascia graft. A 76-year-old woman with symptomatic stage 3 prolapse also had a history of diverticulitis and sigmoid abscess requiring sigmoid colectomy with end colostomy and incidental left ureteral transection with subsequent left nephrostomy tube placement. She presented for colostomy reversal, ureteral reimplantation, and prolapse repair. Given the need for concomitant colon and ureteral reconstruction, the risk of infection was potentially higher if synthetic mesh were used. The patient therefore underwent transabdominal sacrocolpopexy with autologous rectus fascia graft.

RESULTS

At 4 months' follow-up the patient reported resolution of her symptoms and on examination she had no pelvic organ prolapse.

CONCLUSION

Transabdominal sacrocolpopexy using autologous rectus fascia graft is a feasible option, especially in cases in which infection and synthetic mesh extrusion risks are potentially higher.

A long-term treatment outcome of abdominal sacrocolpopexy

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome and major complication rates of abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 57 Korean women who underwent ASC with mesh for symptomatic uterine or vault prolapse and attended follow-up visits for at least 5 years. Forty-seven women with urodynamic stress incontinence concomitantly received a modified Burch colposuspension. The long-term anatomical and functional outcomes and complication rates were assessed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 66 months (range 60-108). Overall anatomical success rates (no recurrence of any prolapse >or= stage II according to the pelvic organ prolapse-quantification system) were 86.0%. Urinary urgency and voiding dysfunction were significantly improved after surgery, however, recurrent stress urinary incontinence developed in 44.7% (21/47) of cases and half of them developed within 1-3 months post-op. Bowel function (constipation and fecal incontinence) and sexual function (sexual activity and dyspareunia) did not significantly change after surgery. Major complication requiring reoperation or intensive care developed in 12 (21.0%) cases.

CONCLUSIONS

ASC provides durable pelvic support, however, it may be ineffective for alleviating pelvic floor dysfunction except for urinary urgency and voiding dysfunction, and it contains major complication risk that cannot be overlooked.