Robot-assisted surgery shows a better way for vaginal vault prolapse

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Robot surgeons can help women recover quicker from vaginal vault prolapse repair.
Vaginal vault prolapse is a common complication after a hysterectomy. When the womb is removed, the vagina loses the ligaments that help support it and as a result, can literally 'fall down'. For the ten per cent of women affected with vaginal vault prolapse after hysterectomy, the problem is both socially embarrassing and physically incapacitating.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic now report upon robot-assisted laparoscopy for vaginal vault repair in a group of 300 women. The robot assists the surgeon by doing mundane tasks that would otherwise be fatiguing. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive approach, compared to the more traditional open repair. Those undergoing robot-assisted vaginal vault repair had only an overnight hospital stay, less need for post-op pain relief and less post-op bleeding. At present, robot-assisted vaginal vault repair is limited in its availability because few surgeons have the training or equipment. But as experience grows, more women will be able to avail themselves of this minimally invasive approach. The Mayo study followed the women for one year - now this will be extended to five years to see how the results hold up in the long term.

Source
Journal of Urology August 2006

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