Laparoscopic Sacropexy and Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Shull Suspension Comparison Trial (V-PULSE)

Laparoscopic Sacropexy and Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Shull Suspension Comparison Trial

Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy With Cervicosacropexy and Vaginally Assisted NOTES Hysterectomy With Uterosacral Ligament Suspension (Shull Technique): a Randomized Multicentric Prospective Comparison Trial

This is a prospective, randomized multicenter study whose objective is to compare two surgical techniques routinely used at our center for the correction of pelvic organ prolapse (laparoscopic cervicosacropexis versus colposuspension sec. Shull using v-NOTES).

patients with pelvic organ prolapse with a stage greater than or equal to stage 2 for the apical compartment who are candidates for surgical correction will be randomized and assigned to one of two treatment groups. The aim is to compare the anatomical, surgical and anesthesiological outcomes between these two surgical techniques, both of which are commonly used in clinical practice for the correction of this type of prolapse.

We will perform a interventional, no profit, prospective, randomized 1:1 multicentre, controlled trial with participating tertiary referral hospital centers in Italy, to compare the laparoscopic cervicosacropexy (CSP) and Shull technique via V-NOTES (VNS) in the management of apical prolapse.

The 6-week examination and review will be performed by the surgeon with all study data and future visits completed by blinded co-authors (Different surgeon or Urogynecology fellows) who will be unaware of group allocation.

The first step consists of a supracervical hysterectomy with morcellation. Anterior and posterior dissection of the vesicovaginal and rectovaginal space. Placing a flexible blade or a Breisky blade in the vagina which is manipulated by the assistant in order to improve exposure of the tissue planes. The retroperitoneum will then be opened from sacral promontory to cervix with the incision just medial to the uterosacral ligament. A low-weight preshaped Y-shaped polypropylene mesh will be secured to the anterior and posterior vagina with four to six separated absorbable 2.0 polyglactin sutures and two nonabsorbable 2.0 prolene sutures can be placed at the level of the remaining cervix. The mesh will be attached to the sacral promontory using two or three nonabsorbable monofilament 2.0 prolene suture. The retroperitoneal space will be closed with continuous 2.0 polyglactin suture or barbed 2.0 absorbable suture material.

Using a cold-bladed scalpel, pericervical colpotomy and subsequent opening of the Douglas and vesico-uterine space is performed. The following step is forcipressure and section of uterosacral ligaments bilaterally with cold blade scissors and ligation in Polysorb 0. A v-PATH® wall retractor is placed, after insertion of three trocars. Total hysterectomy is then performed by standard V-NOTES technique. After transperitoneal visualization of the ureters bilaterally, the peritoneum is incised between the ureters and the uterosacral ligaments, which are thus bilaterally isolated, and three points in polydioxanone 2/0 are placed per side. The v-PATH wall retractor is then removed. Finally the suspension of the vaginal vault at the uterosacral ligaments is made according to Shull technique. Eventual fascial corrections of concomitant anterior or posterior defects will be associated if needed.

Inclusion Criteria: consecutive women referred to one of the participating centers with symptomatic stage 2 or greater (point C≥ -1 pelvic organ prolapse quantification POP-Q) apical prolapse (uterovaginal) with or without anterior and posterior compartment prolapse will be eligible for inclusion (Criteria for which patients in clinical practice are candidates for one of the two interventions under study) Exclusion Criteria: age <18 years, BMI > 30, previous hysterectomy, inability to comprehend questionnaires, to give informed consent and to return for review, unable to undergo general anesthesia, prior laparoscopic prolapse repair or vaginal mesh prolapse procedure, desire for future pregnancy or current pregnancy diagnosis severe respiratory comorbidity, ASA III patients, need for concomitant anti-incontinence procedure.