Title : Minimally invasive and uterus-preserving techniques in pelvic floor surgery
Abstract:
More than 30% of women in the western world suffer from different urogynecological diseases like urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). In cases of POP the most commonly used operative procedure is still a hysterectomy with anterior and posterior colporrhaphy even though the uterus is not the cause of the prolapse. Instead POP is a result of different defects of fascia and ligaments in the pelvic floor. These defects should be accurately detected and taken into account when planning operative treatment. There are plenty of minimally invasive laparoscopic methods dedicated to these defects such as: laparoscopic hystero-, colpo-, cervicosacropexy, pectopexy, laparoscopic lateral repair and laparoscopic colporrhaphy. The use of minimally invasive methods in pelvic floor repair is less of a burden for the patients and reduces the hospitalization time and recurrence rates immensely. Audience Take Away: • Hysterectomy is not the treatment of choice in cases of POP • There are different minimally invasive operative methods in pelvic floor repair which specifically target various pelvic floor defects • Pelvic floor surgery should often be performed by an interdisciplinary team of gynecologists, urologists and colorectal surgeons
