title: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy: how low does the mesh go?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is becoming an increasingly popular surgical approach for repair of apical vaginal prolapse. The aim of this study was to document the postoperative anterior mesh position after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and to investigate the relationship between mesh location and anterior compartment support.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an external audit of patients who underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for apical prolapse ≥ Stage 2 or advanced prolapse ≥ Stage 3, between January 2005 and June 2012. All patients were assessed with a standardized interview, clinical assessment using the International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse quantification and four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound to evaluate pelvic organ support and mesh location. Mesh position was assessed with respect to the symphysis pubis whilst distal mesh mobility was assessed using the formula √[(XValsalva- Xrest)2+ (YValsalva- Yrest)2], where X is the horizontal distance and Y is the vertical distance between the mesh and the inferior symphyseal margin, measured at rest and on Valsalva.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven women were assessed at a mean follow-up of 3.01 (range, 0.13-6.87) years after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, 88% (85/97) of whom considered themselves to be cured or improved, and none had required reoperation. On clinical examination, prolapse recurrence in the apical compartment was not diagnosed in any patient; however, 60 (62%) had recurrence in the anterior compartment and 43 (44%) in the posterior compartment. On ultrasound examination, mesh was visualized in the anterior compartment in 60 patients. Both mesh position and mobility on Valsalva were significantly associated with recurrent cystocele on clinical and on ultrasound assessment (all P < 0.01). For every mm that the mesh was located further from the bladder neck on Valsalva, the likelihood of cystocele recurrence increased by 6-7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At an average follow-up of 3 years, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy was highly effective for apical support; however, cystocele recurrence was common despite an emphasis on anterior mesh extension. Prolapse recurrence seemed to be related to mesh position and mobility, suggesting that the lower the mesh is from the bladder neck, the lower the likelihood of anterior compartment prolapse recurrence. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.|Clinica Alemana de Santiago, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guzman Rojas
authors.affiliation: Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.|Liverpool Hospital, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shek
authors.affiliation: St George's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: St George's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: 4D ultrasound; imaging; laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy; mesh; pelvic floor; pelvic organ prolapse