Robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy/sacrocervicopexy repair of pelvic organ prolapse: initial experience

To present the short-term surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy and sacrocervicopexy.

Between January 2009 and September 2010, 12 patients underwent robotic-assisted pelvic organ prolapse repair including six sacrocolpopexy and six sacrocervicopexy. Patients’ demographics, surgical procedures, operative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, conversion to laparotomy, time data including all operative times and estimated blood loss (EBL) were recorded.

All surgeries were completed robotically with no conversion to laparotomy. The average operative time for the robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RASCP) was 150.5 ± 29.6 min (range 114–189) and the mean console time was calculated as 123.6 ± 34.2 min (range 84–166). The averages of the dissection and the suturation time were 34.8 ± 24.3 min (range 13–72) and 63.3 ± 21.8 min (range 28–95), respectively. The mean length of hospitalization was 2.8 ± 0.7 days (range 2–4) and the mean EBL was calculated as 12.5 ± 4.1 ml (range 10–20). There was one intraoperative complication. The mean age and body mass index of the patients underwent robotic-assisted sacrocervicopexy were 38.1 ± 6.5 years (29–47) and 28.4 ± 5.8 kg/m² (18.6–34.4), respectively. The mean operating times were calculated as follows: set-up time was 25.6 ± 4.0 min, docking time was 3 ± 0.8 min, dissection time was 28.6±7.7 min, suturation time was 70.8 ± 10.9 min and console time was 123.1 ± 23.6 min. There were no recurrences during the follow-up period (12 months) in both groups of the patients.

The use of the robotic system during pelvic organ prolapse repair is feasible, safe and may support the surgeon during dissection and suturing at the level of sacral promontory.