Use of the Hegenberger retractor in Pelvic organ prolapse surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of the Hegenberger retractor in Pelvic organ prolapse surgery
IRAS ID
349075
Contact name
Rachel Nicholson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The study will further investigate the use of the Hegenberger vaginal retractor https://hegenbergermedical.com/
The Hegenberger retractor is a product that has been designed to help stitch vaginal tears, a common problem after women have given birth. The retractor allows for better visibility of the torn tissues, helps to identify the severity of the tear, and allows the tears to be repaired by a single person without the need for an assistant. The procedure can then take less time and be less painful for the patient. For the staff it reduces the risk of needle stick injuries.
Women with pelvic organ prolapse, a bulge in the vagina where organs in the pelvis including the bladder, womb and bowel protrude into the vagina, may opt for surgical repair of their prolapse which aims to restore support of the prolapsing organ and remove the bulge sensation. The vagina is a narrowed space, which becomes obscured by a vaginal prolapse/vaginal bulge, thereby reducing access to the vagina to aid repair. Ergonomics and access in vaginal surgery then arises to ergonomic stress for the surgeon/assistant and can lead to more musculoskeletal strain. Poor ergonomics are a cause of chronic pain and disability for many surgeons, reducing career longevity and threatening the public’s access to surgical care.
Therefore it seems that the Hegenberger retractor will be useful for surgeons performing prolapse surgery.
Women wishing to undergo pelvic organ prolapse surgery will be eligible, specifically where there is a rectocole (where the bowel prolapses into the vagina). The study will take place at South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust by a Urogynaecologist surgeon who specialises in pelvic organ prolapse surgery. It will involve an evaluation of the retractor in 20 patients undergoing posterior repair (PR) or perineorrhaphy procedures. Hegenberger have agreed to supply the retractors to use free of charge.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0176
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion