Zdenek Rusavy

and 3 more

Objective: Data concerning effect on early postoperative pain and patient satisfaction after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) is lacking. Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial Setting: Tertiary urogynaecology care centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University Population: Women undergoing LSC for stage > 2 pelvic organ prolapse were included. The exclusion criteria were concomitant vaginal surgery including suburethral sling or where vagina was opened during the surgery (including hysterectomy). Women with lost or incompletely filled-in McGill pain questionnaire were additionally excluded from the postoperative pain and satisfaction analysis. Methods: Women were randomized to vaginal packing after LSC with a sterile gauze. The subjective perceptions of pain were measured using McGIll Pain Questionnaire on day one before pack extraction and satisfaction was assessed using VAS on postoperative day 1 and 4. Main outcome measures: Postoperative pain on day after the surgery, patient satisfaction with the surgery and postoperative course on day one and four. Results: In total, 274 women were included in analysis, vaginal pack was inserted in 132 (48%) women. The groups did not differ in basic preoperative nor surgical characteristics. Very low and comparable values of all scores of the McGill Pain Questionnaire were observed (VAS pain 3.2 ±1.8 vs. 3.4±1.9, p=0.330). No difference in patient satisfaction on day one (7.3±1.8 vs. 7.4±1.7, p=0.633) nor overall satisfaction on day 5 (8.7±1.3 vs. 8.8±1.1,p=0.719) was observed. Conclusion: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is associated with low levels of pain and high patient satisfaction regardless of vaginal pack insertion. Vaginal packing does not harm the patients. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02943525