Is vNOTES or conventional laparoscopy superior for high uterosacral ligament suspension?

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare the operative time, postoperative pain scores, anatomic outcomes, and complication rates of high uterosacral ligament suspension (HUSLS) performed via vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) versus conventional laparoscopy following hysterectomy for apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

DESIGN

The study was designed as a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Two tertiary care hospitals.

PATIENTS: Women aged 45-75 years who underwent HUSLS after hysterectomy for ≥ stage 2 apical POP between January 2024 and July 2025.

INTERVENTIONS: HUSLS performed using either a vNOTES or conventional laparoscopic approach.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

A total of 118 patients were identified, of whom 112 patients were included in the final analysis (vNOTES, n = 60; laparoscopic, n = 52). The median follow-up duration was 15 and 16 months for the vNOTES and laparoscopic groups,respectively. Baseline demographic characteristics were comparable between the two groups, except for the mode of delivery. The vNOTES group demonstrated a shorter operative time (74.5 ± 22.0 vs 92.1 ± 20.1 min, p < 0.001), lower postoperative pain scores at 6 and 24 h, reduced analgesic requirements, and a smaller postoperative hemoglobin decrease. Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were low and comparable between the groups, and no ureteral injuries or long-term sequelae were observed. The apical anatomic success rates was 96.7% in the vNOTES group and 94.2% in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.534). Overall success across all pelvic compartments was observed in 91.7% and 88.5% of patients in each group, respectively (p = 0.570). Both approaches resulted in significant postoperative improvement in POP-Q measurements (p < 0.001 for all compartments), with no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Although the operative time and VAS scores were lower in the vNOTES group, both vNOTES and laparoscopic HUSLS provide effective and safe for apical prolapse repair following hysterectomy, with comparable anatomic success and low complication rates.

SYNOPSIS: Comparison of laparoscopic and vNOTES HUSLS.