Vaginal NOTES surgery in patients with prior hysterectomy: A first case series

Abstract

This is a first feasibility on vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in patients with prior hysterectomy. Our aim was to gain initial experience on performing vNOTES surgery on prior hysterectomy cases, whereby the main concern is that pelvic adhesions may impede safe transvaginal access. Between January 2017 and February 2020, a single surgeon (J.B.) performed vNOTES surgery on nine patients with a history of hysterectomy. Conventional laparoscopic instruments were inserted transvaginally through a vNOTES port. No abdominal incisions were made. Patient data and perioperative data were analyzed. Mean operating time was 38 minutes and there were no operative complications. Postoperative pain scores were low. The mean size of the adnexal cysts that were removed was 26 mm. In this study, vNOTES surgery was successfully performed in nine patients with prior hysterectomy. Following the IDEAL principles, it is important to report on our initial findings of this IDEAL stage 1 study. The results warrant further investigation in IDEAL stage 2 studies but do not validate the widespread use of this approach.

Keywords: gynecological surgery; hysterectomy; techniques and complications; vaginal NOTES surgery.