Objectives: We present a new surgery based on the round ligament anatomy that is called laparoscopic abdominopexy, which uses a synthetic mesh without fixation at any pelvic point. The aim of this study is to provide a step-by-step description of the laparoscopic abdominopexy technique and present the first anatomical and functional results of the procedure.
Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients with apical and anterior vaginal prolapse who were subjected to laparoscopic abdominopexy. Before and after surgery, the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scale, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Short Form (OABq-SF), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) were used to evaluate the vaginal prolapse stage, storage, and sexual symptoms, respectively. The surgical technique is described step by step.
Results: Twenty patients were included with follow-up times between 6 and 25 months. The mean surgical time was 78.4 minutes. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the Aa (P ≤ 10-5), Ba (P ≤ 10-5), C (P = 5 × 10-5), D (P = .002) and tvl (P = .02) POP-Q points and in OABq-SF (22.2%; P = .02). Successful surgery was observed in 100% of patients for the apical compartment and 90% of patients for the anterior compartment.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic abdominopexy is a quick, safe, and reproducible surgical technique with beneficial anatomical and functional results that preserve the pelvic floor anatomy.
Keywords: Laparoscopic surgery; Pelvic floor; Vaginal prolapse.