Table 2.

Surgeon Certification Processes for the Two Surgical Procedures in the SUPeR study

FOR TVH/USLS CERTIFICATION All surgeons viewed a DVD illustrating essential components of the uterosacral vault suspension technique. All certified surgeons performed a minimum of 20 vaginal hysterectomies, 20 uterosacral procedures, with at least 5 of these apical procedures in the 12 months prior to beginning participant enrollment.

FOR UPHOLD® CERTIFICATION All surgeons viewed a DVD illustrating essential components of the Uphold® technique. All certified surgeons performed a minimum of 20 sacrospinous ligament dissections with performance of at least 10 anterior vaginal dissections to the sacrospinous ligament and at least 10 Capio® suture applications Performance of, or had received hands on proctoring on at least 5 Uphold® LITE procedures for uterovaginal prolapse or cuff-vaginal prolapse. Prior to signing off on certification for each site’s surgeon, the site PI reviewed these 5 cases for any Uphold® LITE procedure related complications and could request additional procedures if skills were not well demonstrated.