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DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1214593
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
The Culdotomy FourS Two U procedure for transvaginal access to the peritoneal cavity
Publication History
submitted 12 January 2009
accepted after revision 2 February 2009
Publication Date:
05 May 2009 (online)

A reliable method of transvaginal access is needed for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. We introduce a new culdotomy procedure, using a technique for the creation of space in the cul-de-sac, transvaginal ultrasound, and a newly developed umbrella Hakko needle. An artificially developed, saline-containing space in the cul-de-sac was punctured by an umbrella Hakko needle from the vagina under the guidance of ultrasound. The vaginal walls on both sides of the needle were incised with an electric scalpel. In five cases with benign gynecological tumors, culdotomy was successfully performed. Operating time was less than 10 minutes and blood loss was less than 10 mL. There were no culdotomy-associated complications. This procedure, named Culdotomy FourS Two U, is a simple, safe, and reliable method for entry into the cul-de-sac in transvaginal gynecological surgeries and may have future applications in transluminal endoscopic surgery through the vagina.
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M. TanakaMD, PhD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kanazawa University
School of Medicine
13-1, Takaramachi
Kanazawa
Ishikawa 920-8641
Japan
Fax: +81-76-2344266
Email: masaaki@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp