title: Is standardised vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation a safe teaching procedure for residents?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several modifications of sacrospinous ligament fixation (SLF) are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study presents a standardised SLF technique. Perioperative course and outcome are compared retrospectively after surgery is performed by experienced surgeons or by residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred three SLF were analysed. Eight residents (LO) operated on 41 patients (5.1 ± 2.2). Six experienced surgeons (SO) operated on 162 patients (27.0 ± 25.7). Mean operating time was 67 ± 33 min. (LO 99 ± 45 min vs. SO 59 ± 22 min, p < 0.05). The overall morbidity rate was 7.8%. There was no significant difference regarding complications and outcomes between SO and LO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operation time was longer but outcomes were identical, and morbidity rate was not increased in the group of resident surgeons. In comparison to literature, complication rate was low. SLF should be part of residency programmes.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik Holweide, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGbmH, Neufelder Str 32, 51067 Cologne, Germany. sauerwalda@kliniken-koeln.de
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauerwald
authors.forename: Inke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peveling
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brunke
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008022:Ligaments / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*