Robot-assisted laparoscopic laparoscopic colpectomy in female-to-male transgenders

During sex change surgery from female-to-male a colpectomy (removal of the
vagina) is performed to lower the risk of complications after phallo- or
metadoioplastic (the surgical addition of a penis) with urethral lengthening.
Until recently, the colpectomy was performed vaginally after the removal of the
uterus. Recently, we have described a robot-assisted laparoscopic method to
remove the uterus and vagina in one surgery. We have seen a drastic decrease in
complications comparing the vaginal colpectomy with the robot-assisted
laparoscopic colpectomy combined with hysterectomy (the extended colpectomy).
But until now, transmen who had their uterus already removed had only one
option: vaginal colpectomy. Yet, it is possible to perform a robot-assisted
laparoscopic colpectomy after hysterectomy (the single colpectomy) and this is
performed in New York already. With this pilot study we will determine 1)
feasibility of the robot-assisted laparoscopic single colpectomy and 2) ethical
accountability of a future randomised controlled trial comparing vaginal
colpectomy with the single robot-assisted laparoscopic colpectomy.

feasability of a robot-assisted laparoscopic, single colpectomy in
female-to-male transgenders who already had their uterus removed.

a pilot cohort study comparing complication outcomes with a cohort of vaginal,
single colpectomy patients from a study.

A robot-assisted laparoscopic, single colpectomy

The burden are laparoscopic incisions (vaginal surgery does not create any
abdominal scars) and time investment in filling out questionnaires of an
expected 20 minutes. Previous studies show that the robot-assisted
laparoscopic, extended colpectomy has lower risks on surgical complications.
Therefore, we hypothese that single colpectomy will also lower the risks for
the participating patient.