At the San Marino State Hospital, the first two gynaecological procedures using the vNotes technique have been carried out, allowing access to the abdominal cavity through the vagina and avoiding external incisions on the abdomen. The method was introduced by the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department (UOC) of the Institute for Social Security (ISS).
The approach combines vaginal access with the instrumentation and endoscopic visualisation typical of laparoscopic surgery. It can be used for certain operations, following an assessment of the patient’s clinical conditions.
“The technique can be used, in appropriately selected patients, for various gynaecological procedures, including hysterectomy and some operations on the ovaries and fallopian tubes,” reads the ISS statement.
The absence of incisions on the abdominal wall can help reduce post-operative pain and promote a faster recovery, with possible benefits also in terms of hospital stay duration.
“Available scientific evidence indicates favourable results with vNotes, particularly in gynaecological surgery for benign conditions, although it requires appropriate patient selection and specific experience on the part of the surgical team.”
The director of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Antonino Lo Re, provided an update on the first procedures: “In recent weeks we have already carried out the first two operations at the State Hospital, and the patients are doing well.”
“This is a surgical approach that is still not widely used, currently employed in only a limited number of Italian centres and not yet common practice even in the hospitals closest to us in the surrounding region. Being able to apply this technique here in San Marino allows us to expand the range of minimally invasive surgical options available to patients, choosing the most appropriate approach on a case-by-case basis according to the clinical characteristics and type of procedure.”
The new method complements the techniques already used by the department. The surgical pathway is determined for each patient based on clinical indications and the type of procedure required.
