Minimally Invasive Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery: A Literature Review of Laparoscopic Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Abstract

Pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse includes transvaginal, open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted approaches. Laparoscopy has established a significant role in minimally invasive surgery across surgical disciplines. In pelvic surgery, although the vaginal approach may offer the most native route to a minimally invasive technique, advances in gynecologic laparoscopy have reported advantages over traditional routes maintaining safety, efficacy, and high patient satisfaction. Majority of current data is limited to descriptive case series and retrospective data that nonetheless continue to support the laparoscopic approach as a reasonably safe alternative to open and vaginal approaches. Few prospective, clinical trials have compared the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of various approaches and surgical techniques highlighting challenges in the utility of robotic-assistance and vaginal graft placement. This literature review provides a summary of important historical and current data in regards to surgical technique and clinical outcomes of advanced pelvic laparoscopy for pelvic organ prolapse. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.