A Randomized Controlled Trail of Uterosacral Ligament Suspension in the Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Summary

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is one of the common benign gynecological disorders in middle-aged and elderly women, which severely affects patients' quality of life and increases the social burden. The lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for POP is 12.6%. Surgery is an important treatment modality for POP, and currently, there are various surgical procedures used in clinical practice, but there is still no clear consensus on which procedure is superior. Autologous tissue repair remains crucial in pelvic floor reconstruction surgery, and high uterosacral ligament suspension (HUSLS) via a vaginal approach is a classic corrective procedure for central pelvic defects. However, with the development of minimally invasive techniques, laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension (LUSLS) has been widely used in the field of pelvic floor reconstruction. Compared to the vaginal approach, LUSLS is easier to perform, has a shorter learning curve, provides better exposure of the ureters, and allows for higher-quality suture placement under safe conditions. The main controversial clinical issue in the industry regarding high uterosacral ligament suspension is whether to perform uterine preservation, with the core concern being the risk of postoperative recurrence. High uterosacral ligament suspension with uterine preservation achieves level I repair by fixing the lower segment or cervix to supporting structures. Its advantages include shorter operation time, less blood loss, and the preservation of the patient's fertility. Many women request uterine preservation for various reasons. Therefore, high-quality research is needed to guide the clinical decision-making regarding uterine preservation in high uterosacral ligament suspension. Previous studies have found that approximately 40% of patients with pelvic organ prolapse have concurrent cervical elongation. For patients with cervical elongation, symptoms in the central pelvic region are mainly caused by the protrusion of elongated cervical tissue into the vagina. Removing the elongated cervix significantly reduces the need for biological support in pelvic floor reconstruction, making autologous tissue repair strategies the preferred option for this patient population while providing a foundation for uterine preservation. Based on long-term observational studies, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital has proposed combining laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension with cervical amputation for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse with cervical elongation. This study aims to compare whether uterine preservation in laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension is non-inferior to uterine removal, providing more treatment options for future patients with pelvic organ prolapse and cervical elongation.

Conditions

• Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension with hysterectomy

After anesthesia, bladder stone removal patients undergo laparoscopic hysterectomy. The adnexa are coagulated and cut, and the bladder peritoneal reflection is opened. The uterus is removed transvaginally. Next, laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension is performed. The right and left uterosacral ligaments are freed and sutured to lift the residual end.

PROCEDURE

Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension with cervical amputation

After anesthesia, bladder stone removal patients undergo cervical amputation surgery. The cervix is exposed and elevated using Allis forceps. A dilator is used to expand the cervix, and an incision is made on the anterior vaginal wall. The cervix is excised and shaped using the Sturmdorf method. Afterward, laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension is performed. The right and left uterosacral ligaments are freed and sutured to lift the uterus.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lan Zhu

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lan Zhu, MD · Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-30

Primary Completion

2026-11-30

Completion

2027-11-30