Assessing Vaginal Surgical Skills Using Video Motion Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using video motion analysis to quantitate a key step of vaginal hysterectomy and define measurable differences between novice and experienced surgical trainees during vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Analyses focused on clamping, transecting, and suturing the left uterosacral ligament. Using a cutoff of 25, trainees were grouped as experienced (n=14) and novice (n=9) based on the total number of vaginal hysterectomies performed by each trainee. Contrasting-groups analysis was used to determine cutoff values that separated novices from experts. RESULTS: Novice trainees took longer (112 seconds compared with 84 seconds) and had greater cumulative translational motion (92 cm compared with 49 cm, P=.05) while performing the task. Experienced trainees placed the Heaney clamp closer to a right angle to the vertical axis (experienced 96° compared with novice 109°, P=.03) while passing the needle through the uterosacral ligament. Trainees move from novice to experts when the steps occur in 112 or fewer seconds, cumulative translational motion is at or less than 75 cm, and the angle between the clamp to bladder retractor is at or below 105°. CONCLUSION: Video motion analysis is a feasible technique to quantify and compare surgical skills objectively during vaginal surgery. There are measurable differences between novice and more experienced surgical trainees performing vaginal hysterectomy that can be quantified using motion analysis

Complication and reoperation rates after apical vaginal prolapse surgical repair: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative complication and reoperation rates for surgical procedures correcting apical vaginal prolapse

Assessing Vaginal Surgical Skills Using Video Motion Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using video motion analysis to quantitate a key step of vaginal hysterectomy and define measurable differences between novice and experienced surgical trainees during vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Analyses focused on clamping, transecting, and suturing the left uterosacral ligament. Using a cutoff of 25, trainees were grouped as experienced (n=14) and novice (n=9) based on the total number of vaginal hysterectomies performed by each trainee. Contrasting-groups analysis was used to determine cutoff values that separated novices from experts. RESULTS: Novice trainees took longer (112 seconds compared with 84 seconds) and had greater cumulative translational motion (92 cm compared with 49 cm, P=.05) while performing the task. Experienced trainees placed the Heaney clamp closer to a right angle to the vertical axis (experienced 96° compared with novice 109°, P=.03) while passing the needle through the uterosacral ligament. Trainees move from novice to experts when the steps occur in 112 or fewer seconds, cumulative translational motion is at or less than 75 cm, and the angle between the clamp to bladder retractor is at or below 105°. CONCLUSION: Video motion analysis is a feasible technique to quantify and compare surgical skills objectively during vaginal surgery. There are measurable differences between novice and more experienced surgical trainees performing vaginal hysterectomy that can be quantified using motion analysis

Measuring the impact of a posterior compartment procedure on symptoms of obstructed defecation and posterior vaginal compartment anatomy.

Introduction and hypothesisWe hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in changes in obstructed defecation symptoms and posterior compartment prolapse between women who underwent posterior vaginal wall prolapse repair (PR) and those who did not.MethodsThis was a two-site prospective cohort study of women undergoing prolapse or incontinence surgery in which a PR was, or was not, performed at the discretion of the surgeon. Women were assessed using validated obstructed defecation questionnaires and standardized examination measures (including POP-Q, measurement of transverse gh, and assessment for a rectovaginal pocket and laxity) prior to pelvic surgery and 12 weeks after surgery.ResultsOf 68 women who underwent surgery, 43 had PR. The PR group had higher obstructed defecation symptoms and greater posterior compartment prolapse at baseline. At 12 weeks, obstructed defecation symptoms had improved significantly more in the PR group than in the no PR group (all p < 0.03). Anatomic outcomes showed greater improvement in point Bp in the PR group (-3.4 vs. -0.7 no PR, p < 0.001) and resolution of the rectovaginal pocket (86 % vs. 42 %, p = 0.002). There were no significant changes in obstructed defecation symptoms or anatomic outcomes from baseline in the no PR group, while the PR group showed significantly improved obstructed defecation symptoms and anatomic outcomes after repair (p < 0.001 for both).ConclusionsSignificant improvements in obstructed defecation symptoms and posterior compartment prolapse were seen after PR, but not in women who did not receive PR. Obstructed defecation symptoms, Bp and rectovaginal pocket were the measures best able to demonstrate improvement after PR. We recommend the use of these measures to assess the impact of surgery in the posterior compartment

Defining Mechanisms of Recurrence Following Apical Prolapse Repair Based on Imaging Criteria

BackgroundProlapse recurrence after transvaginal surgical repair is common; however, its mechanisms are ill-defined. A thorough understanding of how and why prolapse repairs fail is needed to address their high rate of anatomic recurrence and to develop novel therapies to overcome defined deficiencies.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify mechanisms and contributors of anatomic recurrence after vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension (native tissue repair) vs transvaginal mesh (VM) hysteropexy surgery for uterovaginal prolapse.Study designThis multicenter study was conducted in a subset of participants in a randomized clinical trial by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. Overall, 94 women with uterovaginal prolapse treated via native tissue repair (n=48) or VM hysteropexy (n=46) underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging at rest, maximal strain, and poststrain rest (recovery) 30 to 42 months after surgery. Participants who desired reoperation before 30 to 42 months were imaged earlier to assess the impact of the index surgery. Using a novel 3-dimensional pelvic coordinate system, coregistered midsagittal images were obtained to assess study outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging-based anatomic recurrence (failure) was defined as prolapse beyond the hymen. The primary outcome was the mechanism of failure (apical descent vs anterior vaginal wall elongation), including the frequency and site of failure. Secondary outcomes included displacement of the vaginal apex and perineal body and change in the length of the anterior wall, posterior wall, vaginal perimeter, and introitus of the vagina from rest to strain and rest to recovery. Group differences in the mechanism, frequency, and site of failure were assessed using the Fisher exact tests, and secondary outcomes were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.ResultsOf the 88 participants analyzed, 37 (42%) had recurrent prolapse (VM hysteropexy, 13 of 45 [29%]; native tissue repair, 24 of 43 [56%]). The most common site of failure was the anterior compartment (VM hysteropexy, 38%; native tissue repair, 92%). The primary mechanism of recurrence was apical descent (VM hysteropexy, 85%; native tissue repair, 67%). From rest to strain, failures (vs successes) had greater inferior displacement of the vaginal apex (difference, -12 mm; 95% confidence interval, -19 to -6) and perineal body (difference, -7 mm; 95% confidence interval, -11 to -4) and elongation of the anterior vaginal wall (difference, 12 mm; 95% confidence interval, 8-16) and vaginal introitus (difference, 11 mm; 95% confidence interval, 7-15).ConclusionThe primary mechanism of prolapse recurrence following vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension or VM hysteropexy was apical descent. In addition, greater inferior descent of the vaginal apex and perineal body, lengthening of the anterior vaginal wall, and increased size of the vaginal introitus with strain were associated with anatomic failure. Further studies are needed to provide additional insight into the mechanism by which these factors contribute to anatomic failure