Comparison of Early and Late Postoperative Outcomes of vNOTES and Vaginal Hysterectomy in Benign Gynecological Indications: A Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial

This prospective, randomized, non-inferiority controlled trial is designed to compare transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy in women with benign gynecological indications requiring hysterectomy.

The study will be conducted at Harran University Hospital after ethics committee approval and clinical trial registration. Eligible participants will include women aged 18-65 years who are suitable candidates for both surgical techniques. Patients with gynecological malignancy, severe endometriosis, advanced uterine prolapse, pregnancy, active pelvic infection, or high surgical risk will be excluded.

Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the vNOTES hysterectomy group or the vaginal hysterectomy group using computer-based block randomization. All surgical procedures will be performed by an experienced surgeon. Although blinding of surgeons and participants is not feasible, postoperative outcome assessments and statistical analyses will be conducted by blinded researchers.

The primary outcome measure is postoperative pain at 24 hours assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include postoperative recovery, return of bowel motility, urinary catheter duration, hospital stay, postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, readmission rates, and postoperative recovery index scores.

Data will be collected during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods using standardized forms. Patients will be evaluated on postoperative day 0, day 1, day 7, and at postoperative month 1.