Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy: operative times and efficiency in a high-volume female pelvic medicine and laparoscopic surgery practice.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: There has been a trend toward robotic sacrocolpopexy in the United States despite longer operating times and higher costs compared with traditional laparoscopy. The current study objective was to evaluate incision to closure times of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in a urogynecologic practice with extensive experience in the laparoscopic approach for pelvic reconstruction.
METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective evaluation of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse using a permanent polypropylene Y-mesh over a 1-year period. Standard operative technique for sacrocolpopexy was used. Four to six sutures were placed on the anterior leaflet of the mesh, and six to eight sutures were placed posteriorly. Two sutures were placed in the presacral ligament. Mesh was retroperitonealized with a running 2-0 monocryl suture. Primary outcomes were total operating time and time to complete laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.
RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-seven consecutive patients with an average age of 60.04 ± 10.14 years, body mass index (BMI) 25.79 ± 4.52 kg/m2, underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse. Ninety-two patients had other procedures performed intraoperatively: laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic paravaginal repair, laparoscopic enterocele repair, and/or laparoscopic enterolysis. Mean total operative time for all laparoscopic procedures completed was 107.45 ± 34.00 min. The average time to perform sacrocolpopexy, including incision and closure, was 52.78 ± 13.09 min.
CONCLUSION: This retrospective evaluation provides further evidence that traditional laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy should be considered a primary therapy for vaginal vault prolapse.