Fourteen-year experience with laparoscopic ventrosuspension in patients with retroverted and retroflected uterus and pelvic pain syndromes

Background: In women with a retroverted uterus, who have dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, or dysmenorrhea, laparoscopic ventrosuspension of the uterus has been reported effective in achieving symptom relief.

Study objective: To critically review our experience with our method of laparoscopic ventrosuspension.

Design: Cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Patients: Sixty-three women who had undergone laparoscopic ventrosuspension for treatment of pain syndromes during 1995 through 2008.

Interventions: Laparoscopic ventrosuspension, and a questionnaire about the long-term outcome of the operation.

Measurements and main results: There were no adverse events except for 2 repeat operations within 3 postoperative days. Forty-nine women (77.8%) answered the questionnaire about long-term outcome, and in these patients, significant pain relief was achieved (p <.001). Pain levels decreased, based on a numeric rating scale, from a mean (SD) of 6.35 (1.92) to 0.97 (1.40) in patients without endometriosis, and from 6.93 (2.09) to 3.80 (2.08) in those with endometriosis. Of 34 patients without endometriosis, 1 (2.9%) stated that the operation had not led to symptom relief, compared with 4 of 15 (26.7%) with endometriosis (p = .03).

Conclusion: Laparoscopic ventrosuspension is clearly beneficial in women with a retroverted and retroflected uterus who have pelvic pain syndromes, even in the long term.