Laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation versus vaginal uterosacral ligament resection in postmenopausal women with intractable midline chronic pelvic pain: A randomized study

Abstract Objective To assess and compare the laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation (LUNA) and the vaginal uterosacral ligament resection (VUSR) in postmenopausal women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Study design Eighty postmenopausal women with intractable and severe midline CPP were randomized to undergo LUNA or VUSR. Costs of two surgical procedures were assesses. Cure rate, severity of CPP, and deep dyspareunia were also evaluated after 6 and 12 months from surgery. Results The mean cost of LUNA resulted significantly higher in comparison with VURS (2078 ± 637 versus 1497 ± 297, P P  = 0.530; RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.78–1.13), and 12 months (27/36, 75.0% versus 28/38, 73.7%, for groups A and B, respectively; P  = 0.901; RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.78–1.33) of follow-up. At same times, a significant ( P Conclusions Both LUNA and VUSR are equally effective surgical treatments in postmenopausal women with central CPP but VUNR is significantly cheaper than LUNA.