Utility of Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery for Permanent Sterilization after Failed Attempt at Bilateral Tubal Ligation at the Time of Previous Cesarean Section.

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the utility of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy for permanent sterilization after a failed attempt at bilateral tubal ligation at the time of previous cesarean section.

DESIGN

Stepwise demonstration with narrated video footage.

SETTING

There is evidence to support the statistically significant superiority of vNOTES compared with conventional laparoscopy (CL) in terms of patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, time to recovery, and cosmetic results in bilateral salpingectomies for permanent sterilization [1]. Limited studies demonstrate the ease and safety of access to the abdominal cavity in vNOTES while avoiding passage through the abdominal wall, port site complications (infection, hernia, etc.), and those associated with peritoneal adhesions during abdominal laparoscopy or laparotomy [2]. To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first published video of a vNOTES bilateral salpingectomy performed specifically in a patient whose previously attempted bilateral tubal ligation was unsuccessful owing to adhesive disease from 4 previous cesarean sections.

INTERVENTIONS: Institutional review board approval was not required. We describe a case of a 31-year-old female, with a history of 4 previous cesarean deliveries and a cholecystectomy, who desired permanent sterilization 3 months after the previous cesarean section. During previous cesarean section, bilateral adnexa were unable to be accessed owing to dense adhesions from previous surgeries. The patient was counseled on various forms of reversible contraceptive methods; however, she desired permanent sterilization with a surgical procedure. She was counseled on the various routes for opportunistic salpingectomy. Risks, benefits, and alternatives of each surgical approach were discussed. The patient consented for vNOTES opportunistic salpingectomy and possible CL. She was aware that she had significant adhesive disease at the time of previous cesarean section, so may potentially require a laparotomy for the procedure. However, she refused a laparotomy if the surgery was unable to be performed minimally invasively. (1) Demonstrate setup of transvaginal access platform for vNOTES bilateral salpingectomy. (2) Abdominal survey and appreciation of severe adhesive disease through posterior cul-de-sac. (3) Bilateral salpingectomy through single-site vaginal natural orifice surgery.

CONCLUSION

vNOTES bilateral salpingectomy can be considered as a reasonable alternative to CL in patients with severe abdominal adhesive disease from previous surgeries.