title: Clinical outcome of transvaginal sacrospinous fixation with the Veronikis ligature carrier in genital prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome of sacrospinous fixation (SSF) using the Veronikis ligature carrier (VLC) for genital prolapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective longitudinal study was performed. From December 2003 through June 2008, SSF was performed in 76 patients using the VLC as part of their site-specific reconstructive pelvic surgery. All patients were followed up postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and annually thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median operative time of SSF was 34min. It took less than 5min to introduce two sutures through the ligament using the VLC. Four patients (5.3%) had recurrent vaginal vault descent at 3-8 months, and received SSF again. Three patients had recurrent stage 1 cystocele at 6-12 months, but did not require further surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VLC allowed effective introduction of the suspending suture through the sacrospinous ligament and might be considered an important surgical component in the treatment of severe genital prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Daw-Yuan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Bor-Ching
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Su-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Szu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*