Lowest colpopexy sacral fixation point alters vaginal axis and cul-de-sac depth.

Abstract

To determine the variation in vaginal axis and posterior cul-de-sac depth when the lowest suture used to attach the sacrocolpopexy mesh to the anterior longitudinal ligament is anchored at different levels. At five lumbosacral mesh attachment sites, the anterior vaginal wall axis angle was measured relative to a line between the lowest border of the pubic symphysis and fourth sacral (S4) foramen in 9 unembalmed cadavers. The vertical distance from S4 to the posterior mesh was measured as a surrogate of cul-de-sac depth. From a mesh fixation point at the lower border of S2 to a point at the lower border of L5, there was a 3-fold increase in both vaginal axis angle (13.04 ± 3.19 vs 42.88 ± 4.16 cm) and distance from S4 to the posterior mesh (2.50 ± 0.61 vs 7.38 ± 1.30 cm) between these points. During sacrocolpopexy, progressively cephalad sacral attachment increases vaginal axis angle and cul-de-sac depth.