Sacrocolpopexy Experience with a Novel Robotic Surgical Platform
August 31, 2022
Physicians at the UPMC Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and colleagues recently published a case series in the International Urogynecology Journal of women who underwent robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy using a new robotics platform (TransEnterix Senhance) between January 2019 and July 2021.
While robotic-assisted surgery has regularly been used in gynecology since the late 1990s, new technologies and devices must be carefully studied to be sure they are safe and effective for patients. The Senhance robotics platform received FDA approval in 2017 and early experience showed safety and feasibility in general surgery, gynecology, and urology.
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published case series of the robotic platform used for sacrocolpopexy.
Participants and Surgical Results
A total of 25 robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexies using the Senhance system were performed during the study period. All sacrocolpopexies were performed by a single female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon at UPMC.
Mean age was 62.3 years and mean BMI was 26.5 kg/m2. Of the 15 women with a uterus in situ, all underwent a concomitant supracervical or total hysterectomy at the time of the sacrocolpopexy. Mean operative time was 210.2 minutes, with a decrease between the first 12 patients and subsequent 13 patients.
No intraoperative complications were noted during the 25 Senhance sacrocolpopexies in this case series and the only postoperative complications were small bowel obstructions in two patients. Those two patients underwent extensive lysis of adhesions during the sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse.
Senhance System Training and Differentiators
It is increasingly important for skilled surgeons and subspecialists to adapt to new technology quickly, and evaluation of that new technology is essential to ensure safety. Adhering to professional organization guidance and ethical standards, the primary surgeon for these patients underwent extensive training on the platform and previously conducted more than 1,000 robotic gynecological surgeries.
Conclusion
This case series illustrates the feasibility of the TransEnterix Senhance operating system in the urogynecology setting and establishes successful early adoption of a new operating system in a large academic setting.
UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Authors
Stephanie Glass Clark, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Christine McGough, MD
Graduate Medical Resident
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
Michael Bonidie, MD
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science
Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
See full list of authors at the reference below.
Reference
Sassani, J.C., Clark, S.G., McGough, C.E. et al. Sacrocolpopexy experience with a novel robotic surgical platform. Int Urogynecol J (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05155-z
