Robotic sacrocolpopexy for the management of pelvic organ prolapse: a review of midterm surgical and quality of life outcomes

Abstract

Introduction: Transabdominal sacrocolpopexy is a definitive treatment option for vaginal vault prolapse with durable success rates. The aim of our study was to review subjective and objective outcomes including complications after robotic assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for the repair of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods: Single-site retrospective cohort study of women undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with and without concomitant robotic assisted supracervical hysterectomy was performed. Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 questionnaires were used preoperatively and postoperatively to evaluate patient subjective data, respectively. We established a strict improvement of greater than 70% on questionnaire's total score to determine clinical improvement.

Results: Complications were assessed at 6 months and 127 women were included in our review. Mesh extrusion occurred in 3 (2.4%) patients. Other complications reported were bowel injury (2.4%), readmission rate (2.4%), wound infection (1.6%), and postoperative hernia at port site (1.6%). Objective and subjective outcomes were assessed at 1 year in 92 women. Although there was no recurrent apical prolapse at 1 year, anterior prolapse was present in 7 patients. Clinical improvement was present in 72% by Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 and in 68% by Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20. Predictors of poor clinical outcomes were lysis of adhesions (OR, 5.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-27.4; P = 0.026), urethrolysis (OR, 11.91; 95% CI, 1.2-117.9; P = 0.034), current smoking (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.1-58.7; P = 0.042), and older age (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.18; P = 0.044).

Conclusions: Robotic assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy represents a safe and effective surgical therapy to manage symptomatic apical pelvic organ prolapse. Serious complication rates are low but not rare when assessing short-term outcomes.