Robotic Sacrocolpopexy

Robotic Sacrocolpopexy

Counseling

Technique

  1. Place patient in dorsal lithotomy position, prep/drape abdomen and genitals, give cefazolin or culture-specific antibiotics
  2. Insufflate abdomen and place ports in transverse line at level of umbilicus: midline camera, R/L hand, 4th arm on L side, assist port on R side
  3. Dock robot, place bipolar in L arm, scissors in R arm, prograsp in 4th arm
  4. Examine pelvis, place silk traction stitch on bowel if needed to keep out of pelvis, perform hysterectomy if needed
  5. Identify sacral promontory, incise peritoneum in midline over sacrum avoiding aorta and iliacs, cut down until longitudinal ligament is identified
  6. Track incision distally towards vagina, stay medial to ureter (usually safe to travel along uterosacral ligament)
  7. Place blade/spacer in vagina and push into abdomen, then dissect anterior peritoneum off vagina, taking care not to enter bladder or vagina, ensure adequate space for mesh
  8. Track posterior incision approx 1 instrument length distal to vaginal apex on posterior side, then connect incision with uterosacral incision, widen posterior space without entering vagina or rectum
  9. Insert mesh, start with anterior vaginal portion, place 2-0 PDS interrupted stitches x6-8 to anchor mesh, ensure it is anchored distally, then perform the same on posterior side
  10. Adequately tension mesh (usually halfway between maximum tension and fully relaxed), then place 2-0 prolene x2 anchoring mesh to sacral ligament
  11. Close sacral incision with 2-0 vicryl with hemolok clip on the end, place new clip at the end and tie to anchor
  12. Place another vicryl stitch in purse-string fashion to close peritoneum over the mesh
  13. Remove instruments/robot, close ports, place vaginal packing