To evaluate the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (R-vNOTES) hysterectomy when compared with traditional vNOTES (T-vNOTES) hysterectomy. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Academic tertiary setting. Patients: Total of 114 patients with benign gynecologic indication for hysterectomy. Interventions: T-vNOTES or R-vNOTES hysterectomy performed by a single minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon in the study period.Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome of this study was surgical equivalence, measured principally by total operative time between T-vNOTES and R-vNOTES hysterectomy. Secondary operative outcomes that were measured included estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, reported postoperative pain levels, and number of conversions. A total of 79 women underwent T-vNOTES hysterectomy, and 35 women underwent R-vNOTES hysterectomy without differences in operative time (p = .37), estimated blood loss (p = .27), length of hospital stay (p = .06), or reported postoperative pain levels at weeks 1, 2, and 3 after surgery (p = .78, p = .36, p = .38, respectively). A total of 6 patients underwent conversion in the T-vNOTES hysterectomy group compared with 0 in the R-vNOTES hysterectomy group; however, this was not statistically significantly different, and there were no conversions to laparotomy. Conclusion: R-vNOTES hysterectomy is a feasible approach to surgery when compared with T-vNOTES hysterectomy and warrants further consideration as a skill set in a gynecologic surgeon's toolbox. Wristed instruments may allow surgeons who are inexperienced in single-site laparoscopy to adopt vNOTES more quickly as a new technique when performing hysterectomy through a comparable minimally invasive approach.

No abstract

No abstract

To demonstrate stepwise techniques for the successful use of the laparoscopic single-site technique for safely performing transvaginal sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse. Design: Stepwise demonstration with narrated video footage (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital. The patient, aged 69 years gravida 2 para 2-0-0-2 with a history of SVD £ 2, presented with symptomatic stage II anterior vaginal prolapse (Aa +1) and stage II posterior vaginal prolapse (Ap À1). The preoperative vaginal length was measured at 9 cm. Interventions: Laparoscopic transvaginal single-site sacrocolpopexy has been demonstrated to be feasible and safe in the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse. However, the retroperitoneal dissection or suturing/knot tying can be technically challenging to perform, especially in the event of an anatomic variation of a deeply angled S1 vertebra. Wristed robotic instrumentation may overcome some of these obstacles and result in easier suturing and knot tying. Integration of a robotic platform for sacrocolpopexy is a novel alternative minimally invasive approach that is more cosmetic, safer, and effective. Several helpful techniques in robot-assisted transvaginal single-site include the following: (1)The use of a 30˚-angled scope alternating between "facing up" and "facing down" depending on the need for dissection or suturing. (2) The use of 3-dimensional visualization with a robotic camera that can highlight the depth of the surgical anatomy, therefore facilitating easier identification in the dissection of a surgical pedicle. (3) The use of wristed instruments that permit increased articulation and triangulation that are lacking in traditional laparoscopic single-site surgery, allowing for much easier and proficient suturing and knot tying. (4) Integration of the robotic platform that stabilizes the fine motor movement in a surgeon's hands improving the precision of the suturing and knot tying. The procedure was successfully performed in approximately 227 minutes with a measured postoperative vaginal length of 7 cm. The patient's postoperative pelvic organ prolapse quantification was stage 0. Conclusion: Robot-assisted transvaginal single-site sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse is feasible, effective, and safe in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. Patients experience improved cosmesis, decreased postoperative pain, and faster recovery compared with abdominal sacrocolpopexy.

Background: To explore the learning curve and safety outcomes of robotic assisted transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (R-vNOTES) for hysterectomy in benign gynaecological diseases. Methods:A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing R-vNOTES hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease from 2019 to 2021.Setting: An academic tertiary care university hospital in Houston, TX, USA.Results: 84 patients were identified that met the study requirements. The mean hysterectomy time was 77.27 � 2.89 min. The median additional operation time was 63 (8-206) min. There were two conversions to robotic assisted single incision laparoscopy. Thirteen (15.48%) patients had an associated complication. Analysis of the learning curve suggests plateauing of hysterectomy time at approximately 10 cases and time for robot docking and port placement after 10-20 cases.Conclusion: R-vNOTES is a safe and effective route for hysterectomy. For a surgeon with experience in laparoscopic single site surgery and abdominal robotic surgery, they need to perform 10 cases of R-vNOTES hysterectomy and 10-20 cases in port placement and robotic docking to achieve proficiency.