Sacrospinous hysteropexy - an alternative in primary surgical treatment of apical compartment prolapse

OBJECTIVE: To present a surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and its outcomes according to the literature. METHODS: PubMed database search. CONCLUSION: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common diagnosis with prevalence around 40% of female population. Vaginal delivery, especially with levator ani trauma, increasing age and obesity are the basic risk factors. Native tissue repair is a possible surgical treatment. Unfortunately, concomitant hysterectomy is still a very common procedure. It is established that uterus plays a passive role in pelvic organ prolapse. Sparing of the uterus keeps the original fixation structures and compartments intact and provides a solid tissue to anchor the stitches. Patients with benign and malign uterine diseases cannot have their uterus spared. In sacrospinous hysteropexy, nonabsorbable sutures are passed through the namesaked ligament on one or both sides to elevate the uterus. Several studies and their metaanalyses show comparable anatomical and functional outcomes with shorter operation time, decreased blood loss, faster recovery and lower complication rates in comparison with hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament fixation. In a prospective randomized control trial, sacrospinous hysteropexy provides significantly lower reoperation rate for apical compartment prolapse in a long-term follow-up. It is a safe and effective procedure for patients who wish to keep their uterus in place. Sacrospinous hysteropexy is an alternative in primary surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.