The clinical utility of a vaginal template designed to standardize suture placement during retropubic colposuspensions.

Suture placement and bite size utilizing a vaginal template are compared to a traditional surgical approach during modified retropubic colposuspension on four fresh-frozen human female cadavers. Overall, a larger suture bite was obtained utilizing the template (71.5 +/- 4.6 vs 46.7 +/- 25.3 mm2, P = 0.001). However, with increased surgical experience the suture bites obtained with the traditional approach and template technique were similar. Inconsistent suture placement relative to the urethrovesical junction and urethra was observed with both techniques. Differences in pelvic floor anatomy make consistent suture placement with respect to the urethrovesical junction and urethra neither possible nor entirely preferable with either technique. There seems to be little clinical value in the use of this vaginal template during modified retropubic colposuspensions.