Intermediate-term outcomes of laparoscopic pectopexy and vaginal sacrospinous fixation: a comparative study

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the intermediate-term follow-up results of laparoscopic pectopexy and vaginal sacrospinous fixation procedures. Materials and Methods Forty-three women who had vaginal sacrospinous fixations(SSF) using Dr. Aksakal’s Desta suture carrier and 36 women who had laparoscopic pectopexies were re-examined 7 to 43 months after surgery. The PISQ-12 and P-QOL questionnaires were answered by all of the women. Results The apical descensus relapse rates did not differ between the groups (14% in the SSF vs. 11.1% in the pectopexy group). The de novo cystocele rates were higher in the SSF group (25.6% in the SSF vs. 8.3% in the pectopexy group). There were no significant differences in the de novo rectocele numbers between the groups. The treatment satisfaction rates were high in both groups (93% in the SSF vs. 91.7% in the pectopexy group), which was not statistically significant. Moreover, the postoperative de novo urge and stress urinary incontinence rates did not differ; however, the postoperative sexual function scores (PISQ-12) (36.86±3.15 in the SSF group vs. 38.21±5.69 in the pectopexy group) were better in the pectopexy group. The general P-QOL scores were not significantly different between the surgery groups. Conclusion The vaginal sacrospinous fixation maintains its value in prolapse surgery with the increasing importance of native tissue repair. The new laparoscopic pectopexy technique has comparable positive follow-up results with the conventional sacrospinous fixation procedure.